Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 1: Civil and Environmental Engineering
IAP/Spring 2025


Fundamentals

1.00 Engineering Computation and Data Science
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Subject meets with 1.001)
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR) and ((6.100A and 6.100B) or (6.100L and 16.C20))
Units: 3-2-7
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (1-390) Lab: F9-11 (1-390)
______
Presents engineering problems in a computational setting with emphasis on data science and problem abstraction. Covers exploratory data analysis and visualization, filtering, regression. Building basic machine learning models (classifiers, decision trees, clustering) for smart city applications. Labs and programming projects focused on analytics problems faced by cities, infrastructure, and environment. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments and project work.
J. Williams
No required or recommended textbooks

1.000 Introduction to Computer Programming and Numerical Methods for Engineering Applications
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: None. Coreq: 18.03
Units: 3-2-7
______
Presents the fundamentals of computing and computer programming (procedural and object-oriented programming) in an engineering context. Introduces logical operations, floating-point arithmetic, data structures, induction, iteration, and recursion. Computational methods for interpolation, regression, root finding, sorting, searching, and the solution of linear systems of equations and ordinary differential equations. Control of sensors and visualization of scientific data. Draws examples from engineering and scientific applications. Students use the Python programming environment to complete weekly assignments.
R. Juanes

1.001 Engineering Computation and Data Science
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 1.00)
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR)
Units: 3-2-7
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (1-390) Lab: F9-11 (1-390)
______
Presents engineering problems in a computational setting with emphasis on data science and problem abstraction. Covers exploratory data analysis and visualization, filtering, regression. Building basic machine learning models (classifiers, decision trees, clustering) for smart city applications. Labs and programming projects focused on analytics problems faced by cities, infrastructure and environment. Students taking graduate version will complete additional assignments and project work. Programming experience in a language is required.
J. Williams
No required or recommended textbooks

1.004 Startup Sustainable Tech
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 1.147)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a practical introduction to key innovations in the fields of civil and environmental engineering that are currently having an impact. Structured around the different aspects of starting and maintaining a company in the first years after incorporation. Key topics include idea protection, team formation, and seed funds. Guest speakers who are involved in the startup process or are successful entrepreneurs present. Under faculty supervision, students work on case studies in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable design, food security, climate change, new infrastructures, and transportation. Concludes with the writing of a SBIR/STTR-type grant or business model. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
B. Marelli

1.005 Experiential Sustainability
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2
______
Examines the frameworks, governance, science, and social science of sustainability around students' summer internships, research, and other experiential learning activities. During the summer (virtually) and through the first four weeks of the fall term, students engage in small group discussions on diverse topics in sustainability, from environmental justice to corporate social responsibility. Includes global climate action negotiation simulation activities, roundtables with experts in sustainability, and/or similar opportunities for interaction with broad topics in sustainability. In the fall, students reflect on their engagement with sustainability during their summer experience, culminating in a showcase of final presentations. Students planning to take this subject must apply in the spring; consult the program website for details.
D. Plata

1.006 Tools for Sustainable Design
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Conveys the principles, tools, and practice of environmentally sustainable design. Augments understanding of societal limitations to implementation of sustainable solutions, such that they may be strategically navigated. Presents the arguments and historical motivation for early evaluation of environmental impact metrics; illustrates and utilizes modern, rigorous tools for environmental optimization; and highlights national and global experts drawn from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government, industry, and academia. Provides an overview of the principles of Green Chemistry and Engineering, Life Cycle Analysis, toxicity prediction, and basic chemical and materials flows knowledge.
D. Plata

1.008 Engineering for a Sustainable World
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-1-1 [P/D/F]
______
Introduces engineering principles for sustainable development of infrastructure, environmental, and societal systems. Faculty members discuss case studies that highlight challenges and opportunities in the areas of smart cities, cyber-physical systems (transportation, electricity, and societal networks), sustainable resource management (land, water, and energy), and resilient design under the changing environment. Instruction covers the use of computation and data analytics for generating insights, and exercises designed to promote systems thinking and problem-solving skills. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students.
S. Amin

1.009 Climate Change
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Provides an introduction to global climate change processes, drivers, and impacts. Offers exposure to exciting MIT research on climate change. Students explore why and how the world should solve this global problem and how they can contribute to the solutions. Students produce a mini-project on the topic. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students.
E. Eltahir

1.010 Probability and Causal Inference
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
______
Introduces probability and causal inference with an emphasis on understanding, quantifying, and modeling uncertainty and cause-effect relationships in an engineering context. Topics in the first half include events and their probability, the total probability and Bayes' theorems, discrete and continuous random variables and vectors, and conditional analysis. Topics in the second half include covariance, correlation, regression analysis, causality analysis, structural causal models, interventions, and hypothesis testing. Concepts illustrated through data and applications. credit cannot also be received for 1.010A or 1.010B.
S. Saavedra

1.010A Probability: Concepts and Applications
______

Undergrad (Fall); first half of term
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 2-0-4
______
Introduces probability with an emphasis on probabilistic systems analysis. Readings about conceptual and mathematical background are given in advanced of each class. Classes revise background and are centered on developing problem-solving skills. The course is exam-based and focused on the analysis of probabilistic outcomes, estimating what can happen under uncertain environments. Topics include random events and their probability, combinatorial analysis, conditional analysis, random vectors, functions of random vectors, propagation of uncertainty, and prediction analysis. Credit cannot also be received for 1.010.
S. Saavedra

1.010B Causal Inference for Data Analysis
______

Undergrad (Fall); second half of term
Prereq: 1.010A or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Introduces causal inference with an emphasis on probabilistic systems analysis. Readings about conceptual and mathematical background are given in advanced of each class. Class is focused on understanding theory based on real-world applications. The course is project-based and focused on cause-effect relationships, understanding why probabilistic outcomes happen. Topics include correlation analysis, Reichenbach's principle, Simpson's paradox, structural causal models and graphs, interventions, do-calculus, average causal effects, dealing with missing information, mediation, and hypothesis testing. Credit cannot also be received for 1.010.
S. Saavedra

1.013 Senior Civil and Environmental Engineering Design
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-3-2
Lecture: T2-4 (1-246) Lab: TBA
______
Students engage with faculty around a topic of mutual interest, building on the knowledge/skills gained throughout their program. Synthesizes prior coursework and experiences through a semester-long design project and related assignments. Students form teams and work on projects advised by faculty representatives from each core in the 1-ENG curriculum. Teams demonstrate creativity in applying theories and methodologies while considering their project's technical, environmental and social feasibility. Includes lectures on a variety of related engineering concepts, as well as scholarship and engineering practice and ethics. Provides instruction and practice in oral and written communication.
Fall: B. Marelli
Spring: B. Marelli, O. Cordero
No required or recommended textbooks

1.015[J] Design of Electromechanical Robotic Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring) Partial Lab
(Same subject as 2.017[J])
Prereq: 2.003, 2.016, and 2.678; Coreq: 2.671
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (1-134) Lab: W2-5 (NW98-100)
______
Design, construction, and testing of field robotic systems, through team projects with each student responsible for a specific subsystem. Projects focus on electronics, instrumentation, and machine elements. Design for operation in uncertain conditions is a focus point, with ocean waves and marine structures as a central theme. Basic statistics, linear systems, Fourier transforms, random processes, spectra and extreme events with applications in design. Lectures on ethics in engineering practice included. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Satisfies 6 units of Institute Laboratory credit. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity.
M. Triantafyllou, A. Bennett
No required or recommended textbooks

1.016[J] Design for Complex Environmental Issues
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.00C[J], EC.746[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-4
Lecture: MW3-4.30 (4-402) Recitation: F3-4.30 (4-402)
______
Working in small teams with real clients, students develop solutions related to the year's Terrascope topic. They have significant autonomy as they follow a full engineering design cycle from client profile through increasingly sophisticated prototypes to final product. Provides opportunities to acquire skills with power tools, workshop practice, design, product testing, and teamwork. Focuses on sustainability and appropriate technology that matches the client's specific situation and constraints. Products are exhibited in the public Bazaar of Ideas and evaluated by an expert panel. Class taught in collaboration with the Edgerton Center, D-Lab, and Beaver Works. Limited to first-year students. Preference given to students who have completed 12.000, but open to students outside Terrascope when space permits.
A. W. Epstein,D. Brancazio J. Grimm
No required or recommended textbooks

1.018[J] Fundamentals of Ecology
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 7.30[J], 12.031[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Fundamentals of ecology, considering Earth as an integrated dynamic living system. Coevolution of the biosphere and geosphere, biogeochemical cycles, metabolic diversity, primary productivity, competition and the niche, trophic dynamics and food webs, population growth and limiting factors. Population modeling, global carbon cycle, climate change, geoengineering, theories of resource competition and mutualism, allometric scaling, ecological genomics, niche theory, human population growth. Applied ecology.
O. Cordero, D. McRose, C. Terrer

1.020 Modeling and Decision-Making for Sustainability
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: Physics I (GIR), 18.03, and (1.00 or 1.000)
Units: 3-2-7
Lecture: MW9-10.30 (1-277) Recitation: F10-12 (1-246)
______
Introduces a systems approach to modeling, analysis, and design of sustainable systems. Covers principles of dynamical systems, network models, optimization, and control, with applications in ecosystems, infrastructure networks, and energy systems. Includes a significant programming component. Students implement and analyze numerical models of systems, and make design decisions to balance physical, environmental, and economic considerations based on real and simulated data.
S. Amin
No required or recommended textbooks

1.021 Introduction to Modeling and Simulation
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.021, 3.021, 10.333, 22.00)
Prereq: 18.03 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR3-4.30 (4-231) Recitation: W3 (4-153)
______
Basic concepts of computer modeling and simulation in science and engineering. Uses techniques and software for simulation, data analysis and visualization. Continuum, mesoscale, atomistic and quantum methods used to study fundamental and applied problems in physics, chemistry, materials science, mechanics, engineering, and biology. Examples drawn from the disciplines above are used to understand or characterize complex structures and materials, and complement experimental observations.
M. Buehler, A. Hoffman
No required or recommended textbooks

1.022 Introduction to Network Models
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: (1.010A, 18.03, and (1.00 or 1.000)) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR10.30-12 (1-375) Recitation: F11 (1-132)
______
Provides an introduction to complex networks, their structure, and function, with examples from engineering, applied mathematics and social sciences. Topics include spectral graph theory, notions of centrality, random graph models, contagion phenomena, cascades and diffusion, and opinion dynamics.
J. Tang
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

1.032 Advanced Soil Mechanics
______

Undergrad (Fall); first half of term
(Subject meets with 1.361)
Prereq: 1.037
Units: 3-0-6
______
Covers topics in the characterization and nature of soils as multi-phase materials; the principle of effective stress; hydraulic conductivity and groundwater seepage; shear strength and stability analyses; stress-deformation properties, consolidation theory and calculation of settlements for clays and sands. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Whittle

1.034[J] Materials in Human Experience
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 3.094[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-3-4
Lecture: MW12 (4-237) Lab: M2-5 (4-006) or W2-5 (4-006) or R2-5 (4-006)
______
Examines how people throughout history have selected, evaluated, processed, and utilized natural materials to create objects of material culture. Explores ideological and aesthetic criteria influential in materials development. As examples of ancient engineering and materials processing, topics may include ancient Roman concrete and prehistoric iron and steel production by the Mossi, Haya, and other African cultures. Particular attention paid to the climate issues surrounding iron and cement, and how the examination of ancient technologies can inform our understanding of sustainability in the present and illuminate paths for the future. Previous topics have included Maya use of lime plaster for frescoes, books, and architectural sculpture; the sound, color, and power of metals in Mesoamerica; and metal, cloth, and fiber technologies in the Inca empire. Laboratory sessions provide practical experience with materials discussed in class. Enrollment limited to 24.
M. Tarkanian, A. Masic, J. Hunter, R. Vedro
No required or recommended textbooks

1.035 Mechanics of Materials
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 1.050 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-2-7
Lecture: MF11-12.30 (1-379) Lab: W1-3 (1-050) +final
______
Covers the structure and properties of natural and manufactured engineering materials with an emphasis on the fundamentals of mechanical behavior of materials, while considering their use in civil and environmental engineering design. Topics include linear elasticity, plasticity, viscoelasticity, fracture, and fatigue. Laboratory experiments present principles of experimental characterization techniques, materials selection, and design.
A. Whittle
No required or recommended textbooks

1.036 Structural Mechanics and Design
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 1.050
Units: 3-1-8
______
Familiarizes students with structural systems, loads, and basis for structural design, including analysis of determinate and indeterminate structures (trusses, beams, frames, cables, and arches). Covers mechanical properties of construction materials, including concrete, steel, and composites. Studies concrete and steel structures through application of principles of structural mechanics. Evaluates behavior and design of reinforced concrete structural elements using limit strength design and serviceability principles. Introduces plastic analysis and design, and load factor design of structural steel members and connections. Team project emphasizes material covered through behavior and problem-based learning.
O. Buyukozturk

1.037 Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Design
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 1.050
Units: 3-2-7
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Provides an introduction to soils as engineering materials, including classification and characterization, pore pressures and seepage, principles of effective stress and consolidation, deformation, and shear strength properties. Surveys analysis methods, with a focus on slope stability, limiting earth pressures and bearing capacity, and settlements of foundations. Examines applications in the design of earth dams, earth retaining systems, foundations, and staged construction processes.
A. Whittle

1.041[J] Transportation: Foundations and Methods
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as IDS.075[J])
(Subject meets with 1.200[J], 11.544[J], IDS.675[J])
Prereq: (1.010A and (1.00 or 1.000)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Covers core analytical and numerical methods for modeling, planning, operations, and control of transportation systems. Traffic flow theory, vehicle dynamics and behavior, numerical integration and simulation, graphical analysis. Properties of delays, queueing theory. Resource allocation, optimization models, linear and integer programming. Autonomy in transport, Markov Decision Processes, reinforcement learning, deep learning. Applications drawn broadly from land, air, and sea transport; private and public sector; transport of passengers and goods; futuristic, modern, and historical. Hands-on computational labs. Linear algebra background is encouraged but not required. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. Wu

1.050 Solid Mechanics
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Physics I (GIR); Coreq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 3-2-7
______
Introduction to statics and the principles of mechanics to describe the behavior of structures. Topics include free body diagrams, static equilibrium, force analysis of slender members, concept of stress and strain, linear elasticity, principal stresses and strains, Mohr's circle, and failure modes. Application to engineering structures such as bars, beams, frames, and trusses.
J. Carstensen

1.052 Advancing Mechanics and Materials via Machine Learning
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 1.121[J], 2.174[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), Physics II (GIR), and (1.000, 6.100A, 6.100L, or 16.C20)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (1-150)
______
Concepts in mechanics (solid mechanics: continuum, micro, meso and molecular mechanics; elasticity, plasticity, fracture and buckling) and machine learning (stochastic optimization, neural networks, convolutional neural nets, adversarial neural nets, graph neural nets, recurrent neural networks and long/short-term memory nets, attention models, variational/autoencoders) introduced and applied to mechanics problems. Covers numerical methods, data and image processing, dataset generation, curation and collection, and experimental validation using additive manufacturing. Modules cover: foundations, fracture mechanics and size effects, molecular mechanics and applications to biomaterials (proteins), forward and inverse problems, mechanics of architected materials, and time dependent mechanical phenomena. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Buehler
No required or recommended textbooks

1.053[J] Dynamics and Control I
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 2.003[J])
Prereq: Physics II (GIR); Coreq: 2.087 or 18.03
Units: 4-1-7
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (3-270) Recitation: R10 (5-217) or R11 (5-217) or R12 (5-217) or R1 (5-217) or R2 (5-217) +final
______
Introduction to the dynamics and vibrations of lumped-parameter models of mechanical systems. Kinematics. Force-momentum formulation for systems of particles and rigid bodies in planar motion. Work-energy concepts. Virtual displacements and virtual work. Lagrange's equations for systems of particles and rigid bodies in planar motion. Linearization of equations of motion. Linear stability analysis of mechanical systems. Free and forced vibration of linear multi-degree of freedom models of mechanical systems; matrix eigenvalue problems.
Fall: F. Hover
Spring: T. Peacock
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

1.054 Mechanics and Design of Concrete Structures
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 1.541)
Prereq: 1.036 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (1-246)
______
Studies strength and deformation of concrete under various states of stress; failure criteria; concrete plasticity; and fracture mechanics concepts. Topics include fundamental behavior of reinforced concrete structural systems and their members; basis for design and code constraints; high-performance concrete materials and their use in innovative design solutions; and yield line theory for slabs. Uses behavior models and nonlinear analysis. Covers complex systems, including bridge structures, concrete shells, and containments. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
O. Buyukozturk
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

1.056[J] Introduction to Structural Design
______

Undergrad (Spring) Institute Lab
(Same subject as 4.440[J])
(Subject meets with 4.462)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (3-333) Lab: F10-12 (5-233)
______
Introduces the design and behavior of large-scale structures and structural materials. Emphasizes the development of structural form and the principles of structural design. Presents design methods for timber, masonry, concrete, and steel applied to long-span roof systems, bridges, and high-rise buildings. Includes environmental assessment of structural systems and materials. In laboratory sessions, students solve structural problems by building and testing simple models. Graduate and undergraduate students have separate lab sections.
J. Ochsendorf
No required or recommended textbooks

1.057 Heritage Science and Technology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-3-4
______
Interdisciplinary, applied introduction to ancient materials and technology. Students explore materials sustainability and durability from multiple perspectives, using ancient societies, architecture and building materials as time-proven examples of innovation in construction. Involves discussions of peer-reviewed literature and cultural heritage, project formulation, data collection, and data analysis. Culminates in presentation of research project(s), and write-ups of the research in manuscript form.
A. Masic

1.058 Structural Dynamics
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 1.581[J], 2.060[J], 16.221[J])
Prereq: 18.03 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines response of structures to dynamic excitation: free vibration, harmonic loads, pulses and earthquakes. Covers systems of single- and multiple-degree-of-freedom, up to the continuum limit, by exact and approximate methods. Includes applications to buildings, ships, aircraft and offshore structures. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
H. Borja da Rocha

1.060 Fluid Mechanics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-2-6
Credit cannot also be received for 1.060A
Lecture: MWF10 (1-132) Lab: T10-12 (1-132) or F2.30-4.30 (1-132) +final
______
Mechanics principles for incompressible fluids. Review of hydrostatics. Conservation of mass, momentum and energy in fluid mechanics. Flow nets, velocity distributions in laminar and turbulent flows, groundwater flows. Momentum and energy principles in hydraulics, with emphasis on open channel flow and hydraulic structures. Drag and lift forces. Analysis of pipe systems, pumps and turbines. Gradually varied flow in open channels, significance of the Froude number, backwater curves and kinematic waves. Application of principles through open-ended studio exercises. Meets with 1.060A first half of term.
Fall: B. Marelli
Spring: B. Marelli
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

1.060A Fluid Mechanics I
______

Undergrad (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None. Coreq: 18.03; or permission of instructor
Units: 2-1-3
Credit cannot also be received for 1.060
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: MWF10 (1-132) Lab: T10-12 (1-132) or F2.30-4.30 (1-132) +final
______
Mechanics principles for incompressible fluids. Review of hydrostatics. Conservation of mass, momentum and energy in fluid mechanics. Flow nets, velocity distributions in laminar and turbulent flows, groundwater flows. Momentum and energy principles in hydraulics, with emphasis on open channel flow and hydraulic structures. Meets with 1.060 in first half of term.
B. Marelli
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

1.061 Transport Processes in the Environment
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 1.61)
Prereq: 1.060
Units: 3-1-8
Credit cannot also be received for 1.061A
______
Introduction to mass transport in environmental flows, with emphasis on river and lake systems. Covers derivation and solutions to the differential form of mass conservation equations, hydraulic models for environmental systems, residence time distribution, molecular and turbulent diffusion for continuous and point sources, boundary layers, dissolution, bed-water exchange, air-water exchange, and particle transport. Meets with 1.061A first half of term. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
H. M. Nepf

1.061A Transport Processes in the Environment I
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall); first half of term
Prereq: 1.060A
Units: 2-1-3
Credit cannot also be received for 1.061, 1.61
______
Introduction to mass transport in environmental flows. Covers derivation and solution to the differential form of mass conservation, hydraulic models for environmental systems, residence time distribution, and molecular and turbulent diffusion for continuous and point sources. Meets with 1.061 first half of term.
H. Nepf

1.062[J] Nonlinear Dynamics: Continuum Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 12.207[J], 18.354[J])
(Subject meets with 18.3541)
Prereq: Physics II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (2-143)
______
General mathematical principles of continuum systems. From microscopic to macroscopic descriptions in the form of linear or nonlinear (partial) differential equations. Exact solutions, dimensional analysis, calculus of variations and singular perturbation methods. Stability, waves and pattern formation in continuum systems. Subject matter illustrated using natural fluid and solid systems found, for example, in geophysics and biology.
N. Derr
No required or recommended textbooks

1.063 Fluids and Diseases
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 1.631[J], 2.250[J], HST.537[J])
Prereq: 18.03 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Designed for students in engineering and the quantitative sciences who want to explore applications of mathematics, physics and fluid dynamics to infectious diseases and health; and for students in epidemiology, environmental health, ecology, medicine, and systems modeling seeking to understand physical and spatial modeling, and the role of fluid dynamics and physical constraints on infectious diseases and pathologies. The first part of the class reviews modeling in epidemiology and data collection, and highlights concepts of spatial modeling and heterogeneity. The remainder highlights multi-scale dynamics, the role of fluids and fluid dynamics in physiology, and pathology in a range of infectious diseases. The laboratory portion entails activities aimed at integrating applied learning with theoretical concepts discussed in lectures and covered in problem sets. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
L. Bourouiba

1.066[J] Fluid Physics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 8.292[J], 12.330[J])
Prereq: 5.60, 8.044, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (5-217)
______
A physics-based introduction to the properties of fluids and fluid systems, with examples drawn from a broad range of sciences, including atmospheric physics and astrophysics. Definitions of fluids and the notion of continuum. Equations of state and continuity, hydrostatics and conservation of momentum; ideal fluids and Euler's equation; viscosity and the Navier-Stokes equation. Energy considerations, fluid thermodynamics, and isentropic flow. Compressible versus incompressible and rotational versus irrotational flow; Bernoulli's theorem; steady flow, streamlines and potential flow. Circulation and vorticity. Kelvin's theorem. Boundary layers. Fluid waves and instabilities. Quantum fluids.
L. Bourouiba
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

1.067[J] Energy Systems for Climate Change Mitigation
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 10.421[J], IDS.065[J])
(Subject meets with 1.670[J], 10.621[J], IDS.521[J])
Prereq: (Calculus I (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics I (GIR)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Reviews the contributions of energy systems to global greenhouse gas emissions, and the levers for reducing those emissions. Lectures and projects focus on evaluating energy systems against climate policy goals, using performance metrics such as cost, carbon intensity, and others. Student projects explore pathways for realizing emissions reduction scenarios. Projects address the climate change mitigation potential of energy technologies (hardware and software), technological and behavioral change trajectories, and technology and policy portfolios. Background in energy systems strongly recommended. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments and explore the subject in greater depth. Preference to students in the Energy Studies or Environment and Sustainability minors.
J. Trancik

1.068 Nonlinear Dynamics and Turbulence
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 1.686[J], 2.033[J], 18.358[J])
Prereq: 1.060A
Units: 3-2-7
______
Reviews theoretical notions of nonlinear dynamics, instabilities, and waves with applications in fluid dynamics. Discusses hydrodynamic instabilities leading to flow destabilization and transition to turbulence. Focuses on physical turbulence and mixing from homogeneous isotropic turbulence. Also covers topics such as rotating and stratified flows as they arise in the environment, wave-turbulence, and point source turbulent flows. Laboratory activities integrate theoretical concepts covered in lectures and problem sets. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
L. Bourouiba

1.070A[J] Introduction to Hydrology and Water Resources
______

Undergrad (Fall); first half of term
(Same subject as 12.320A[J])
Prereq: 1.060A; Coreq: 1.061A and 1.106
Units: 2-0-4
______
Water in the environment; Water resource systems; The hydrologic cycle at its role in the climate system; Surface water and energy balance; evaporation and transpiration through vegetation; Precipitation formation, infiltration, storm runoff, and flood processes; Groundwater aquifers, subsurface flow and the hydraulics of wells.
D. Entekhabi

1.070B[J] Introduction to Hydrology Modeling
______

Undergrad (Fall); second half of term
(Same subject as 12.320B[J])
Prereq: 1.070A
Units: 2-0-4
______
Develops understanding of numerical modeling of aquifers, groundwater flow and contaminant transport, as well as uncertainty and risk analysis for water resources.
D. Entekhabi

1.071[J] Global Change Science
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 12.300[J])
(Subject meets with 1.771)
Prereq: 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (48-308)
______
Introduces the basic principles and concepts in atmospheric physics, and climate dynamics, through an examination of: greenhouse gases emissions (mainly CO2), global warming, and regional climate change. Case studies are presented for the regional impacts of climate change on extreme weather, water availability, and disease transmission. Introduction to regional and global environmental problems for students in basic sciences and engineering. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. Eltahir
No required or recommended textbooks

1.072 Groundwater Hydrology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 1.72)
Prereq: 1.061
Units: 3-1-8
Lecture: MW10.30-12 (48-308)
______
Presents the fundamentals of subsurface flow and transport, emphasizing the role of groundwater in the hydrologic cycle, the relation of groundwater flow to geologic structure, and the management of contaminated groundwater. Topics include Darcy equation, flow nets, mass conservation, the aquifer flow equation, heterogeneity and anisotropy, storage properties, regional circulation, unsaturated flow, recharge, stream-aquifer interaction, well hydraulics, flow through fractured rock, numerical models, groundwater quality, contaminant transport processes, dispersion, decay, and adsorption. Includes laboratory and computer demonstrations. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. Harvey
No required or recommended textbooks

1.073 Introduction to Environmental Data Analysis
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 1.010
Units: 2-0-4
______
Covers theory and practical methods for the analysis of univariate data sets. Topics include basics of statistical inference, analysis of trends and stationarity; Gaussian stochastic processes, covariance and correlation analysis, and introduction to spectral analysis. Students analyze data collected from the civil, environment, and systems domains.
E. Eltahir

1.074 Multivariate Data Analysis
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 1.174)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 1.000 and 1.010A
Units: 2-0-4
______
Introduction to statistical multivariate analysis methods and their applications to analyze data and mathematical models. Topics include sampling, experimental design, regression analysis, specification testing, dimension reduction, categorical data analysis, classification and clustering.
S. Amin

1.075 Water Resource Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 1.731)
Prereq: 1.070B or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys optimization and simulation methods for management of water resources. Case studies illustrate linear, quadratic, nonlinear programming and real-time control. Applications include river basin planning, irrigation and agriculture, reservoir operations, capacity expansion, assimilation of remote sensing data, and sustainable resource development. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
D. McLaughlin

1.076 Carbon Management
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 1.760)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-7
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (1-134) Lab: F2-4 (48-308)
______
Introduces the carbon cycle and "climate solutions." Provides specialized knowledge to manage and offset carbon emissions for government entities and large corporations through nature-based solutions and technology. Students prepare a mini-project simulating the assessment of practices and technologies for removing carbon dioxide from the air for a specific organization, which prepares them to become professionals with the skills to help evaluate and manage carbon emissions. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. Terrer
No required or recommended textbooks

1.077 Land, Water, Food, and Climate
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 1.74)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Examines land, water, food, and climate in a changing world, with an emphasis on key scientific questions about the connections between natural resources and food production. Students read and discuss papers on a range of topics, including water and land resources, climate change, demography, agroecology, biotechnology, trade, and food security. Supporting information used for background and context includes data and analysis based on government reports, textbooks, and longer peer-reviewed documents not included in the readings. Provides a broad perspective on one of the defining global issues of this century. Students carry out exercises with relevant data sets, write critiques of key issues, and complete a focused term project. Completion of MIT Science Core or equivalent recommended but not required. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
D. McLaughlin

1.080 Chemicals in the Environment
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 1.800)
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MF1-2.30 (48-316)
______
Introduction to environmental chemistry, focusing on the fate and impact of chemicals in both natural and engineered systems. Covers equilibrium reactions (e.g., partitioning, dissolution/precipitation, acid-base, redox, metal complexation), and kinetically-controlled reactions (e.g., photolysis, free radical oxidation). Specific environmental topics covered include heavy metals in natural waters, drinking water, and soils; biogeochemical cycles; radioactivity in the environment; smog formation; greenhouse gases and climate change; and engineering for the prevention and remediation of pollution. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Kroll
No required or recommended textbooks

1.081[J] Environmental Cancer Risks, Prevention, and Therapy
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 20.104[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR), Calculus II (GIR), and Chemistry (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Analysis of the history of cancer and vascular disease mortality rates in predominantly European- and African-American US cohorts, 1895-2016, to discover specific historical shifts. Explored in terms of contemporaneously changing environmental risk factors: air-, food- and water-borne chemicals; subclinical infections; diet and lifestyles. Special section on occupational risk factors. Considers the hypotheses that genetic and/or environmental factors affect metakaryotic stem cell mutation rates in fetuses and juveniles and/or their growth rates of preneoplastic in adults.
W. Thilly, R. McCunney

1.082 Ethics for Engineers
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.082, 2.900, 6.9320, 10.01, 16.676)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Credit cannot also be received for 7.105, 20.005
URL: https://e4e.mit.edu/
Lecture: M3-5 (66-148) or T3-5 (66-148) or W3-5 (66-148) or W EVE (7-9 PM) (66-148)
______
Explores how to be an ethical engineer. Students examine engineering case studies alongside key readings by foundational ethical thinkers from Aristotle to Martin Luther King, Jr., and investigate which ethical approaches are best and how to apply them. Topics include justice, rights, cost-benefit analysis, safety, bias, genetic engineering, climate change, and the promise and peril of AI. Discussion-based, with the aim of introducing students to new ways of thinking. All sections cover the same core ethical frameworks, but some sections have a particular focus for case studies, such as bioengineering, or have an in-depth emphasis on particular thinkers. The subject is taught in separate sections. Students are eligible to take any section regardless of their registered subject number. For 20.005, students additionally undertake an ethical-technical analysis of a BE-related topic of their choosing.
Fall: B. L. Trout, P. Hansen, D. Lauffenburger, K. Hansen
Spring: P. Hansen, L. Guarente, D. Lauffenburger, K. Hansen
No required or recommended textbooks

1.084[J] Applied Microbiology
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 20.106[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR) and Chemistry (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introductory microbiology from a systems perspective - considers microbial diversity and the integration of data from a molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological context to understand the interaction of microbial organisms with their environment. Special emphasis on specific viral, bacterial, and eukaryotic microorganisms and their interaction with animal hosts with focus on contemporary problems in areas such as vaccination, emerging disease, antimicrobial drug resistance, and toxicology.
J. Niles, K. Ribbeck

1.085[J] Air Pollution and Atmospheric Chemistry
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 12.336[J])
(Subject meets with 1.855)
Prereq: 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a working knowledge of basic air quality issues, with emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach to investigating the sources and effects of pollution. Topics include emission sources; atmospheric chemistry and removal processes; meteorological phenomena and their impact on pollution transport at local to global scales; air pollution control technologies; health effects; and regulatory standards. Discusses regional and global issues, such as acid rain, ozone depletion and air quality connections to climate change. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Recommended for upper-level undergraduate students.
C. Heald

1.086 Physics and Engineering of Renewable Energy Systems
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 1.861)
Prereq: (Physics I (GIR), Physics II (GIR), and 18.03) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to renewable energy generation in the context of the energy grid system. Focuses on computational analysis of energy systems. Topics include the energy grid and energy markets; fossil fuel generation; wind, solar, hydroelectric, and ocean energy; and energy storage. Tools, including computational models of wind energy generation and energy forecasting algorithms, introduced. Final project focuses on the development of low-carbon, low-cost energy systems. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Howland

1.088 Genomics and Evolution of Infectious Disease
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 1.881[J], HST.538[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR) and (1.000 or 6.100B)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (5-134)
______
Provides a thorough introduction to the forces driving infectious disease evolution, practical experience with bioinformatics and computational tools, and discussions of current topics relevant to public health. Topics include mechanisms of genome variation in bacteria and viruses, population genetics, outbreak detection and tracking, strategies to impede the evolution of drug resistance, emergence of new disease, and microbiomes and metagenomics. Discusses primary literature and computational assignments. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
T. Lieberman
No required or recommended textbooks

1.089 Environmental Microbial Biogeochemistry
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 1.89)
Prereq: Biology (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1.30-3 (48-316)
______
Provides a thorough introduction to biogeochemical cycling from the vantage point of microbial physiology. Emphasizes molecular mechanisms, experimental design and methodology, hypothesis testing, and applications. Topics include aerobic and anaerobic respiration, trace metals, secondary metabolites, redox, plant-microbe interactions, carbon storage, agriculture, and bioengineering. Formal lectures and in-depth discussions of foundational and contemporary primary literature. Students use knowledge of microbial metabolisms to develop final projects on applied solutions to problems in agriculture and biogeochemistry. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
D. McRose
No required or recommended textbooks

1.091 Traveling Research Environmental eXperience (TREX): Fieldwork
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (IAP)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-2-0
______
Introduction to environmental fieldwork and research, with a focus on data collection and analysis. Subject spans three weeks, including two weeks of fieldwork, and involves one or more projects central to environmental science and engineering. Location varies year-to-year, though recent projects have focused on the island of Hawaii. Limited to Course 1 students.
D. Des Marais

1.096[J] Design of Sustainable Polymer Systems
______

Undergrad (IAP)
(Same subject as 10.496[J])
Prereq: (10.213 and 10.301) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Capstone subject in which students are charged with redesigning consumable plastics to improve their recyclability and illustrate the potential future of plastic sourcing and management. Students engage with industry partners and waste handlers to delineate the design space and understand downstream limitations in waste treatment. Instruction includes principles of plastic design, polymer selection, cost estimation, prototyping, and the principles of sustainable material design. Students plan and propose routes to make enhanced plastic kits. Industry partners and course instructors select winning designs. Those students can elect to proceed to a semester of independent study in which prototype kits are fabricated (using polymer extrusion, cutting, 3D printing), potentially winning seed funds to translate ideas into real impacts. Preference to juniors and seniors in Courses 10, 1, and 2.
B. D. Olsen, D. Plata
No required or recommended textbooks

1.097 Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
______

Undergrad (IAP)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-5-0 [P/D/F]
______
Students work one-on-one with a CEE graduate student or postdoc mentor on a project that aligns with their research interests. Previous project topics include transportation networks, structural mechanics, sediment transport, climate science, and microbial ecology. Includes weekly seminar-style talks. Intended for first-year students.
S. Smith
No required or recommended textbooks

1.098[J] Nuclear Energy and the Environment: Waste, Effluents, and Accidents
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 22.078[J])
(Subject meets with 1.878[J], 22.78[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (24-115) +final
______
Introduces the essential knowledge for understanding nuclear waste management. Includes material flow sheets for nuclear fuel cycle, waste characteristics, sources of radioactive wastes, compositions, radioactivity and heat generation, chemical processing technologies, geochemistry, waste disposal technologies, environmental regulations and the safety assessment of waste disposal. Covers different types of wastes: uranium mining waste, low-level radioactive waste, high-level radioactive waste and fusion waste. Provides the quantitative methods to compare the environmental impact of different nuclear and other energy-associated waste. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
H. Wainwright
No required or recommended textbooks

Undergraduate Laboratory Subjects

1.101 Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Design I
______

Undergrad (Fall) Partial Lab
Prereq: None
Units: 0-4-2
______
Introduces the creative design process in the context of civil and environmental engineering. Emphasizes the idea-to-product trajectory: identification of a design question/problem, evaluation of requirements/constraints set by the application and/or client, and implementation into a concrete product deliverable. Fosters active learning through open-ended, student-driven projects in which teams apply the design process to a design/planning problem. In labs, students design and build a working model or an experiment that addresses a specific engineering aspect of their project. In addition to written and oral presentations, students start a web-based portfolio. Satisfies 6 units of Institute Laboratory credit. Enrollment limited; preference to Course 1 majors and minors.
T. Cohen

1.102 Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Design II
______

Undergrad (Spring) Partial Lab
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 1.101 and (Physics II (GIR) or Coreq: 1.060)
Units: 1-3-2
______
Project-oriented subject focused on the principles and practice of engineering design. Emphasis on construction and deployment of designs, plus performance testing used to determine if designs behave as expected. Includes a major team project involving use and application of sensors, as well as environmentally-friendly, and energy-effective or energy-producing designs. Develops practical, teamwork and communication skills. Satisfies 6 units of Institute Laboratory credit. Enrollment limited; preference to Course 1 majors and minors.
A. Masic

1.103[J] Infrastructure Design for Climate Change
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 11.173[J])
(Subject meets with 1.303[J], 11.273[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-2-4
______
In this team-oriented, project-based subject, students work to find technical solutions that could be implemented to mitigate the effects of natural hazards related to climate change, bearing in mind that any proposed measures must be appropriate in a given region's socio-political-economic context. Students are introduced to a variety of natural hazards and possible mitigation approaches as well as principles of design, including adaptable design and design for failure. Students select the problems they want to solve and develop their projects. During the term, officials and practicing engineers of Cambridge, Boston, Puerto Rico, and MIT Facilities describe their approaches. Student projects are documented in a written report and oral presentation. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited; preference to juniors and seniors.
H. Einstein

1.104 Sensing and Intelligent Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring) Partial Lab
Prereq: (1.000 or 6.100A) and (1.101 or permission of instructor)
Units: 1-3-2
Lecture: T9 (1-050) Lab: R1-4 (1-050)
______
Introduces concepts and tools for modern sensing, data acquisition, and post-processing techniques, with applications to monitoring and control of infrastructure and environmental systems. Provides technical knowledge of sensing and monitoring technologies. Students collaborate to develop a design project that involves: selecting the right kind of sensors guided by the physical principles and sensing modalities; synthesizing multi-modal data for new applications; refining commercially available sensors for new real-world applications; designing a sensor network and building data-acquisition system for use in lab experiments and/or real-world deployments; sending the data over the Internet for visualization and post-processing; and using intuition and mathematical models to analyze the data. Guided visits to faculty research labs and field visits provide perspective. Provides instruction in oral and written communication.
S. Amin
No required or recommended textbooks

1.106 Environmental Fluid Mechanics Lab
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) Partial Lab
Prereq: None. Coreq: 1.061A
Units: 0-4-2
______
In this lab, students design and analyze experiments to understand fluid physics and mass transport processes that shape environmental systems and can be used to inform the design of nature-based solutions for environmental restoration. Emphasis is given to the design of experiments, uncertainty and propagation of error, and data analysis. Topics include diffusion, dispersion, residence time distributions, and surface waves, which are introduced in the context of designing treatment wetlands, coastal protection, and habitat restoration. Communication skills developed through the writing and revision of a formal lab report and an oral presentation. Satisfies 6 units of Institute Laboratory credit. Enrollment limited; preference to 1-ENG and 1-12 majors.
H. Nepf

1.107 Water and Air Quality Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Spring) Partial Lab
Prereq: None. Coreq: 1.080
Units: 0-4-2
Lecture: W1 (48-316) Lab: W2-5 (48-109)
______
Laboratory and field techniques in environmental engineering and its application to the understanding of natural and engineered ecosystems. Exercises involve data collection and analysis covering a range of topics, spanning all major domains of the environment (air, water, soils, and sediments), and using a number of modern environmental analytical techniques. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Concludes with a student-designed final project, which is written up in the form of a scientific manuscript. Satisfies 6 units of Institute Laboratory credit. Enrollment limited; preference to 1-ENG majors.
D. Plata
No required or recommended textbooks

1.108 Climate and Sustainability Lab
______

Undergrad (Spring) Institute Lab
Prereq: 12.003 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-4-5
Lecture: MW3-4.30 (36-153) Lab: T1-5 (48-109)
______
Students work together on a project addressing climate mitigation and/or adaptation. The topic of the project changes from year to year but builds on the knowledge and skills gained in previous coursework in climate science and engineering. Students are challenged to demonstrate creativity in applying theories and methodologies while considering their project's technical, social, and theoretical feasibility. Includes lectures on related climate-change scientific and engineering concepts. Provides instruction and practice in oral and written communication.
C. Harvey
No required or recommended textbooks

Engineering Information Systems and Computation

1.121[J] Advancing Mechanics and Materials via Machine Learning
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.174[J])
(Subject meets with 1.052)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (1-150)
______
Concepts in mechanics (solid mechanics: continuum, micro, meso, and molecular mechanics; elasticity, plasticity, fracture and buckling) and machine learning (stochastic optimization, neural networks, convolutional neural nets, adversarial neural nets, graph neural nets, recurrent neural networks and long/short-term memory nets, attention models, variational/autoencoders) introduced and applied to mechanics problems. Covers numerical methods, data and image processing, dataset generation, curation and collection, and experimental validation using additive manufacturing. Modules cover: foundations, fracture mechanics and size effects, molecular mechanics and applications to biomaterials (proteins), forward and inverse problems, mechanics of architected materials, and time dependent mechanical phenomena. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Buehler
No required or recommended textbooks

1.125 Architecting and Engineering Software Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Software architecting and design of cloud-based software-intensive systems. Targeted at future engineering managers who must understand both the business and technical issues involved in architecting enterprise-scale systems. Student teams confront technically challenging problems. Introduces modern dev-ops concepts and cloud-computing, including cloud orchestration for machine learning. Also discusses cyber-security issues of key management and use of encrypted messaging for distributed ledgers, e.g., blockchain. Students face problem solving in an active learning lab setting, completing in-class exercises and weekly assignments leading to a group project. Some programming experience preferred. Enrollment limited.
J. Williams

1.127[J] Reinforcement Learning: Foundations and Methods
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.7920[J], IDS.140[J])
Prereq: 6.3700 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Examines reinforcement learning (RL) as a methodology for approximately solving sequential decision-making under uncertainty, with foundations in optimal control and machine learning. Provides a mathematical introduction to RL, including dynamic programming, statistical, and empirical perspectives, and special topics. Core topics include: dynamic programming, special structures, finite and infinite horizon Markov Decision Processes, value and policy iteration, Monte Carlo methods, temporal differences, Q-learning, stochastic approximation, and bandits. Also covers approximate dynamic programming, including value-based methods and policy space methods. Applications and examples drawn from diverse domains. Focus is mathematical, but is supplemented with computational exercises. An analysis prerequisite is suggested but not required; mathematical maturity is necessary.
C. Wu

Engineering Analysis Methods

1.138[J] Wave Propagation
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 2.062[J], 18.376[J])
Prereq: 2.003 and 18.075
Units: 3-0-9
______
Theoretical concepts and analysis of wave problems in science and engineering with examples chosen from elasticity, acoustics, geophysics, hydrodynamics, blood flow, nondestructive evaluation, and other applications. Progressive waves, group velocity and dispersion, energy density and transport. Reflection, refraction and transmission of plane waves by an interface. Mode conversion in elastic waves. Rayleigh waves. Waves due to a moving load. Scattering by a two-dimensional obstacle. Reciprocity theorems. Parabolic approximation. Waves on the sea surface. Capillary-gravity waves. Wave resistance. Radiation of surface waves. Internal waves in stratified fluids. Waves in rotating media. Waves in random media.
T. R. Akylas, R. R. Rosales

See also 1.351, 1.541, 1.56J, 1.63, 1.691.

Engineering Systems, Economics, and Optimization

1.142[J] Robust Modeling, Optimization, and Computation
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 15.094[J])
Prereq: 18.06 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduces modern robust optimization, including theory, applications, and computation. Presents formulations and their connection to probability, information and risk theory for conic optimization (linear, second-order, and semidefinite cones) and integer optimization. Application domains include analysis and optimization of stochastic networks, optimal mechanism design, network information theory, transportation, pattern classification, structural and engineering design, and financial engineering. Students formulate and solve a problem aligned with their interests in a final project.
Staff

1.146 System Design and Management for a Changing World: Combined
______

Graduate (Fall)
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.146, 16.861, EM.422, IDS.332)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for EM.423, IDS.333
______
Practical-oriented subject that builds upon theory and methods and culminates in extended application. Covers methods to identify, value, and implement flexibility in design (real options). Topics include definition of uncertainties, simulation of performance for scenarios, screening models to identify desirable flexibility, decision analysis, and multidimensional economic evaluation. Students demonstrate proficiency through an extended application to a system design of their choice. Complements research or thesis projects. Class is "flipped" to maximize student engagement and learning. Meets with IDS.333 in the first half of term. Enrollment limited.
R. de Neufville

1.147 Startup Sustainable Tech
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 1.004)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a practical introduction to key innovations in the fields of civil and environmental engineering that are currently having an impact. Structured around the different aspects of starting and maintaining a company in the first years after incorporation. Key topics include idea protection, team formation, and seed funds. Guest speakers who are involved in the startup process or are successful entrepreneurs present. Under faculty supervision, students work on case studies in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable design, food security, climate change, new infrastructures, and transportation. Concludes with the writing of a SBIR/STTR-type grant or business model. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
B. Marelli

See also 1.202J, 1.203J, 1.283J, 1.731. For management of engineering systems, see also 1.040, 1.401J-1.482.


left arrow | 1.00-1.149 | 1.150-1.499 | 1.50-1.999 plus UROP and Thesis | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 2: Mechanical Engineering
IAP/Spring 2025


First-Year Introductory Subjects

2.00A Designing for the Future: Earth, Sea, and Space
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-3-3
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (1-246) Lab: T2-5 (N52-337)
______
Student teams formulate and complete space/earth/ocean exploration-based design projects with weekly milestones. Introduces core engineering themes, principles, and modes of thinking. Specialized learning modules enable teams to focus on the knowledge required to complete their projects, such as machine elements, electronics, design process, visualization and communication. Includes exercises in written and oral communication and team building. Examples of projects include surveying a lake for millfoil, from a remote controlled aircraft, and then sending out robotic harvesters to clear the invasive growth; and exploration to search for the evidence of life on a moon of Jupiter, with scientists participating through teleoperation and supervisory control of robots. Enrollment limited; preference to freshmen.
A. Techet
No textbook information available

2.00B Toy Product Design
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-5-1
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Provides students with an overview of design for entertainment and play, as well as opportunities in creative product design and community service. Students develop ideas for new toys that serve clients in the community, and work in teams with local sponsors and with experienced mentors on a themed toy design project. Students enhance creativity and experience fundamental aspects of the product development process, including determining customer needs, brainstorming, estimation, sketching, sketch modeling, concept development, design aesthetics, detailed design, and prototyping. Includes written, visual, and oral communication. Enrollment limited; preference to freshmen.
Staff

2.S00 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Prereq: None
Units arranged
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW2.30-4 (1-246)
______
Lecture, seminar, or laboratory subject consisting of material not offered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit only for completely different subject matter. 
Staff
No textbook information available

2.S01 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: None
Units arranged
Lecture: MW3-4.30 (NE45-202C)
______
Lecture, seminar, or laboratory subject consisting of material not offered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit only for completely different subject matter. 
M. Benjamin
No textbook information available

2.S02 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Lecture, seminar, or laboratory subject consisting of material not offered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit only for completely different subject matter.
J. Leonard

2.00C[J] Design for Complex Environmental Issues
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.016[J], EC.746[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-4
Lecture: MW3-4.30 (4-402) Recitation: F3-4.30 (4-402)
______
Working in small teams with real clients, students develop solutions related to the year's Terrascope topic. They have significant autonomy as they follow a full engineering design cycle from client profile through increasingly sophisticated prototypes to final product. Provides opportunities to acquire skills with power tools, workshop practice, design, product testing, and teamwork. Focuses on sustainability and appropriate technology that matches the client's specific situation and constraints. Products are exhibited in the public Bazaar of Ideas and evaluated by an expert panel. Class taught in collaboration with the Edgerton Center, D-Lab, and Beaver Works. Limited to first-year students. Preference given to students who have completed 12.000, but open to students outside Terrascope when space permits.
A. W. Epstein,D. Brancazio J. Grimm
No textbook information available

Core Undergraduate Subjects

2.00 Introduction to Design
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring); second half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-2-2
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MF3.30-5 (3-370) Lab: W EVE (7-10 PM) (3-004) or R9-12 (3-004) or R EVE (7-10 PM) (3-004) or F9-12 (3-004)
______
Project-based introduction to product development and engineering design. Emphasizes key elements of the design process, including defining design problems, generating ideas, and building solutions. Presents a range of design techniques to help students think about, evaluate, and communicate designs, from sketching to physical prototyping, as well as other types of modeling. Students work both individually and in teams.
Fall: M. Yang
Spring: M. Yang
No textbook information available

2.000 Explorations in Mechanical Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-0 [P/D/F]
______
Broad introduction to the various aspects of mechanical engineering at MIT, including mechanics, design, controls, energy, ocean engineering, bioengineering, and micro/nano engineering through a variety of experiences, including discussions led by faculty, students, and industry experts. Reviews research opportunities and undergraduate major options in Course 2 as well as a variety of career paths pursued by alumni. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students.
Staff

2.001 Mechanics and Materials I
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Physics I (GIR); Coreq: 2.087 or 18.03
Units: 4-1-7
Lecture: MWF11 (45-230) Lab: R9-10.30 (1-135) or R10.30-12 (5-234) or R12.30-2 (1-135) or R2.30-4 (1-132) or W12.30-2 (1-132) or W2.30-4 (1-371) +final
______
Introduction to statics and the mechanics of deformable solids. Emphasis on the three basic principles of equilibrium, geometric compatibility, and material behavior. Stress and its relation to force and moment; strain and its relation to displacement; linear elasticity with thermal expansion. Failure modes. Application to simple engineering structures such as rods, shafts, beams, and trusses. Application to biomechanics of natural materials and structures.
Fall: P. Hosoi, R. Raman
Spring: M. Guo
No textbook information available

2.002 Mechanics and Materials II
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR) and 2.001
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (3-270) Lab: M1-3 (BEGINS FEB 10) (1-307) or M3-5 (BEGINS FEB 10) (1-307) or T9-11 (BEGINS FEB 10) (1-307) or T1-3 (BEGINS FEB 10) (1-307) or T3-5 (BEGINS FEB 10) (1-307) or W9-11 (BEGINS FEB 10) (1-307) +final
______
Introduces mechanical behavior of engineering materials, and the use of materials in mechanical design. Emphasizes the fundamentals of mechanical behavior of materials, as well as design with materials. Major topics: elasticity, plasticity, limit analysis, fatigue, fracture, and creep. Materials selection. Laboratory experiments involving projects related to materials in mechanical design. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 majors and minors.
C. Portela Galindo
No textbook information available

2.003[J] Dynamics and Control I
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 1.053[J])
Prereq: Physics II (GIR); Coreq: 2.087 or 18.03
Units: 4-1-7
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (3-270) Recitation: R10 (5-217) or R11 (5-217) or R12 (5-217) or R1 (5-217) or R2 (5-217) +final
______
Introduction to the dynamics and vibrations of lumped-parameter models of mechanical systems. Kinematics. Force-momentum formulation for systems of particles and rigid bodies in planar motion. Work-energy concepts. Virtual displacements and virtual work. Lagrange's equations for systems of particles and rigid bodies in planar motion. Linearization of equations of motion. Linear stability analysis of mechanical systems. Free and forced vibration of linear multi-degree of freedom models of mechanical systems; matrix eigenvalue problems.
Fall: F. Hover
Spring: T. Peacock
No required or recommended textbooks

2.004 Dynamics and Control II
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: Physics II (GIR) and 2.003
Units: 4-2-6
Lecture: MW9.30-11,F10 (1-190) Lab: M1-3 (3-062A) or M3-5 (3-062A) or T1-3 (3-062A) or T3-5 (3-062A) +final
______
Modeling, analysis, and control of dynamic systems. System modeling: lumped parameter models of mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical systems; interconnection laws; actuators and sensors. Linear systems theory: linear algebra; Laplace transform; transfer functions, time response and frequency response, poles and zeros; block diagrams; solutions via analytical and numerical techniques; stability. Introduction to feedback control: closed-loop response; PID compensation; steady-state characteristics, root-locus design concepts, frequency-domain design concepts. Laboratory experiments and control design projects. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 majors and minors.
Fall: D. Del Vecchio
Spring: F. Hover
No textbook information available

2.005 Thermal-Fluids Engineering I
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: (Physics II (GIR), 18.03, and (2.086, 6.100B, or 18.06)) or permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: TR9-11 (1-190) Recitation: F10 (56-114) or F11 (56-114) or F1 (56-114) +final
______
Integrated development of the fundamental principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer, with applications. Focuses on the first and second laws of thermodynamics, mass conservation, and momentum conservation, for both closed and open systems. Entropy generation and its influence on the performance of engineering systems. Introduction to dimensionless numbers. Introduction to heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation. Steady-state and transient conduction. Finned surfaces. The heat equation and the lumped capacitance model. Coupled and uncoupled fluid models. Hydrostatics. Inviscid flow analysis and Bernoulli equation. Navier-Stokes equation and its solutions. Viscous internal flows, head losses, and turbulence. Introduction to pipe flows and Moody chart.
Fall: P. Lermusiaux
Spring: J. Buongiorno, K. Varanasi
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

2.006 Thermal-Fluids Engineering II
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: 2.005
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: TR9.30-11,F9 (3-270) Recitation: F10 (1-375) or F11 (1-375) or F12 (1-375) +final
______
Focuses on the application of the principles of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics to the design and analysis of engineering systems. Dimensional analysis, similarity, and modeling. Pipe systems: major and minor losses. Laminar and turbulent boundary layers. Boundary layer separation, lift and drag on objects. Heat transfer associated with laminar and turbulent flow of fluids in free and forced convection in channels and over surfaces. Pure substance model. Heat transfer in boiling and condensation. Thermodynamics and fluid mechanics of steady flow components of thermodynamic plants. Heat exchanger design. Power cycles and refrigeration plants. Design of thermodynamic plants. Analyses for alternative energy systems. Multi-mode heat transfer and fluid flow in thermodynamic plants.
Fall: R. Karnik
Spring: S. Deng, J. Brisson
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

2.007 Design and Manufacturing I
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 2.001 and 2.670; Coreq: 2.086
Units: 3-4-5
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (10-250) Lab: M2-5 (3-050A) or T2-5 (3-050A) or T2-5 (3-050B) or W9-12 (3-050A) or W9-12 (3-050B) or W2-5 (3-050A) or W2-5 (3-050B) or R2-5 (3-050A) or R2-5 (3-050B) or F9-12 (3-050A) or F9-12 (3-050B) or M2-5 (3-050B) +final
______
Develops students' competence and self-confidence as design engineers. Emphasis on the creative design process bolstered by application of physical laws. Instruction on how to complete projects on schedule and within budget. Robustness and manufacturability are emphasized. Subject relies on active learning via a major design-and-build project. Lecture topics include idea generation, estimation, concept selection, visual thinking, computer-aided design (CAD), mechanism design, machine elements, basic electronics, technical communication, and ethics. Lab fee. Limited enrollment. Pre-registration required for lab assignment; special sections by lottery only.
S. Kim, A. Winter
No textbook information available

2.008 Design and Manufacturing II
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Partial Lab
Prereq: 2.007; or Coreq: 2.017 and (2.005 or 2.051)
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: MW12.30-2 (35-225) Lab: T9-12 (35-310) or T2-5 (35-310) or W9-12 (35-310) or W2-5 (35-310) or R9-12 (35-310) or R2-5 (35-310)
______
Integration of design, engineering, and management disciplines and practices for analysis and design of manufacturing enterprises. Emphasis is on the physics and stochastic nature of manufacturing processes and systems, and their effects on quality, rate, cost, and flexibility. Topics include process physics and control, design for manufacturing, and manufacturing systems. Group project requires design and fabrication of parts using mass-production and assembly methods to produce a product in quantity. Six units may be applied to the General Institute Lab Requirement. Satisfies 6 units of Institute Laboratory credit. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 majors and minors.
Fall: K. Becker
Spring: J.-H. Chun, J. Ramos
No textbook information available

2.009 The Product Engineering Process
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 2.001, 2.003, (2.005 or 2.051), and (2.00B, 2.670, or 2.678)
Units: 3-3-9
______
Students develop an understanding of product development phases and experience working in teams to design and construct high-quality product prototypes. Design process learned is placed into a broader development context. Primary goals are to improve ability to reason about design alternatives and apply modeling techniques appropriate for different development phases; understand how to gather and process customer information and transform it into engineering specifications; and use teamwork to resolve the challenges in designing and building a substantive product prototype. Instruction and practice in oral communication provided. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 seniors.
A. Hosoi

2.013 Engineering Systems Design
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 2.733)
Prereq: (2.001, 2.003, (2.005 or 2.051), and (2.00B, 2.670, or 2.678)) or permission of instructor
Units: 0-6-6
______
Focuses on the design of engineering systems to satisfy stated performance, stability, and/or control requirements. Emphasizes individual initiative, application of fundamental principles, and the compromises inherent in the engineering design process. Culminates in the design of an engineering system, typically a vehicle or other complex system. Includes instruction and practice in written and oral communication through team presentations, design reviews, and written reports. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 majors and minors.
D. Hart

2.014 Engineering Systems Development
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 2.734)
Prereq: (2.001, 2.003, (2.005 or 2.051), and (2.00B, 2.670, or 2.678)) or permission of instructor
Units: 0-6-6
Lecture: F1 (NE45-202A) Lab: F2-5 (NE45-202A)
______
Focuses on implementation and operation of engineering systems. Emphasizes system integration and performance verification using methods of experimental inquiry. Students refine their subsystem designs and the fabrication of working prototypes. Includes experimental analysis of subsystem performance and comparison with physical models of performance and with design goals. Component integration into the full system, with detailed analysis and operation of the complete vehicle in the laboratory and in the field. Includes written and oral reports. Students carry out formal reviews of the overall system design. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 majors and minors.
D. Hart
No textbook information available

2.016 Hydrodynamics
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 2.005
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers fundamental principles of fluid mechanics and applications to practical ocean engineering problems. Basic geophysical fluid mechanics, including the effects of salinity, temperature, and density; heat balance in the ocean; large scale flows. Hydrostatics. Linear free surface waves, wave forces on floating and submerged structures. Added mass, lift and drag forces on submerged bodies. Includes final project on current research topics in marine hydrodynamics.
A. Techet

2.017[J] Design of Electromechanical Robotic Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring) Partial Lab
(Same subject as 1.015[J])
Prereq: 2.003, 2.016, and 2.678; Coreq: 2.671
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (1-134) Lab: W2-5 (NW98-100)
______
Design, construction, and testing of field robotic systems, through team projects with each student responsible for a specific subsystem. Projects focus on electronics, instrumentation, and machine elements. Design for operation in uncertain conditions is a focus point, with ocean waves and marine structures as a central theme. Basic statistics, linear systems, Fourier transforms, random processes, spectra and extreme events with applications in design. Lectures on ethics in engineering practice included. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Satisfies 6 units of Institute Laboratory credit. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity.
M. Triantafyllou, A. Bennett
No textbook information available

2.019 Design of Ocean Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 2.001, 2.003, and (2.005 or 2.016)
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: F1 (NE45-202A) Lab: F2-5 (NE45-202A)
______
Complete cycle of designing an ocean system using computational design tools for the conceptual and preliminary design stages. Team projects assigned, with each student responsible for a specific subsystem. Lectures cover hydrodynamics; structures; power and thermal aspects of ocean vehicles, environment, materials, and construction for ocean use; generation and evaluation of design alternatives. Focus on innovative design concepts chosen from high-speed ships, submersibles, autonomous vehicles, and floating and submerged deep-water offshore platforms. Lectures on ethics in engineering practice included. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 seniors.
D. Hart
No textbook information available

2.086 Numerical Computation for Mechanical Engineers
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics I (GIR); Coreq: 2.087 or 18.03
Units: 2-2-8
Lecture: MW12 (32-141) Lab: R9-11 (3-442) or R2-4 (3-442) or F2-4 (5-233) +final
______
Covers elementary programming concepts, including variable types, data structures, and flow control. Provides an introduction to linear algebra and probability. Numerical methods relevant to MechE, including approximation (interpolation, least squares, and statistical regression), integration, solution of linear and nonlinear equations, and ordinary differential equations. Presents deterministic and probabilistic approaches. Uses examples from MechE, particularly from robotics, dynamics, and structural analysis. Assignments require MATLAB programming. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 majors and minors.
Fall: D. Frey
Spring: D. Frey
No textbook information available

2.087 Engineering Mathematics: Linear Algebra and ODEs
______

Undergrad (Fall); first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 2-0-4
______
Introduction to linear algebra and ordinary differential equations (ODEs), including general numerical approaches to solving systems of equations. Linear systems of equations, existence and uniqueness of solutions, Gaussian elimination. Initial value problems, 1st and 2nd order systems, forward and backward Euler, RK4. Eigenproblems, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, including complex numbers, functions, vectors and matrices.
Staff

Dynamics and Acoustics

2.032 Dynamics
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 2.003
Units: 4-0-8
______
Review of momentum principles. Hamilton's principle and Lagrange's equations. Three-dimensional kinematics and dynamics of rigid bodies. Study of steady motions and small deviations therefrom, gyroscopic effects, causes of instability. Free and forced vibrations of lumped-parameter and continuous systems. Nonlinear oscillations and the phase plane. Nonholonomic systems. Introduction to wave propagation in continuous systems.
T. Akylas

2.033[J] Nonlinear Dynamics and Turbulence
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.686[J], 18.358[J])
(Subject meets with 1.068)
Prereq: 1.060A
Units: 3-2-7
______
Reviews theoretical notions of nonlinear dynamics, instabilities, and waves with applications in fluid dynamics. Discusses hydrodynamic instabilities leading to flow destabilization and transition to turbulence. Focuses on physical turbulence and mixing from homogeneous isotropic turbulence. Also covers topics such as rotating and stratified flows as they arise in the environment, wave-turbulence, and point source turbulent flows. Laboratory activities integrate theoretical concepts covered in lectures and problem sets. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
L. Bourouiba

2.034[J] Nonlinear Dynamics and Waves
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.685[J], 18.377[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
A unified treatment of nonlinear oscillations and wave phenomena with applications to mechanical, optical, geophysical, fluid, electrical and flow-structure interaction problems. Nonlinear free and forced vibrations; nonlinear resonances; self-excited oscillations; lock-in phenomena. Nonlinear dispersive and nondispersive waves; resonant wave interactions; propagation of wave pulses and nonlinear Schrodinger equation. Nonlinear long waves and breaking; theory of characteristics; the Korteweg-de Vries equation; solitons and solitary wave interactions. Stability of shear flows. Some topics and applications may vary from year to year.
Staff

2.036[J] Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 18.385[J])
Prereq: 18.03 or 18.032
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to the theory of nonlinear dynamical systems with applications from science and engineering. Local and global existence of solutions, dependence on initial data and parameters. Elementary bifurcations, normal forms. Phase plane, limit cycles, relaxation oscillations, Poincare-Bendixson theory. Floquet theory. Poincare maps. Averaging. Near-equilibrium dynamics. Synchronization. Introduction to chaos. Universality. Strange attractors. Lorenz and Rossler systems. Hamiltonian dynamics and KAM theory. Uses MATLAB computing environment.
Staff

2.050[J] Nonlinear Dynamics: Chaos
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 12.006[J], 18.353[J])
Prereq: Physics II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to nonlinear dynamics and chaos in dissipative systems. Forced and parametric oscillators. Phase space. Periodic, quasiperiodic, and aperiodic flows. Sensitivity to initial conditions and strange attractors. Lorenz attractor. Period doubling, intermittency, and quasiperiodicity. Scaling and universality. Analysis of experimental data: Fourier transforms, Poincare sections, fractal dimension, and Lyapunov exponents. Applications to mechanical systems, fluid dynamics, physics, geophysics, and chemistry. See 12.207J/18.354J for Nonlinear Dynamics: Continuum Systems.
R. Rosales

2.060[J] Structural Dynamics
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.581[J], 16.221[J])
(Subject meets with 1.058)
Prereq: 18.03 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
______
Examines response of structures to dynamic excitation: free vibration, harmonic loads, pulses and earthquakes. Covers systems of single- and multiple-degree-of-freedom, up to the continuum limit, by exact and approximate methods. Includes applications to buildings, ships, aircraft and offshore structures. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
H. Borja da Rocha

2.062[J] Wave Propagation
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.138[J], 18.376[J])
Prereq: 2.003 and 18.075
Units: 3-0-9
______
Theoretical concepts and analysis of wave problems in science and engineering with examples chosen from elasticity, acoustics, geophysics, hydrodynamics, blood flow, nondestructive evaluation, and other applications. Progressive waves, group velocity and dispersion, energy density and transport. Reflection, refraction and transmission of plane waves by an interface. Mode conversion in elastic waves. Rayleigh waves. Waves due to a moving load. Scattering by a two-dimensional obstacle. Reciprocity theorems. Parabolic approximation. Waves on the sea surface. Capillary-gravity waves. Wave resistance. Radiation of surface waves. Internal waves in stratified fluids. Waves in rotating media. Waves in random media.
T. R. Akylas, R. R. Rosales

2.065 Acoustics and Sensing
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 2.066)
Prereq: 2.003, 6.3000, 8.03, or 16.003
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (5-134)
______
Introduces the fundamental concepts of acoustics and sensing with waves. Provides a unified theoretical approach to the physics of image formation through scattering and wave propagation in sensing. The linear and nonlinear acoustic wave equation, sources of sound, including musical instruments. Reflection, refraction, transmission and absorption. Bearing and range estimation by sensor array processing, beamforming, matched filtering, and focusing. Diffraction, bandwidth, ambient noise and reverberation limitations. Scattering from objects, surfaces and volumes by Green's Theorem. Forward scatter, shadows, Babinet's principle, extinction and attenuation. Ray tracing and waveguides in remote sensing. Applications to acoustic, radar, seismic, thermal and optical sensing and exploration. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.
N. Makris
No textbook information available

2.066 Acoustics and Sensing
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 2.065)
Prereq: 2.003, 6.3000, 8.03, 16.003, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (5-134)
______
Introduces the fundamental concepts of acoustics and sensing with waves. Provides a unified theoretical approach to the physics of image formation through scattering and wave propagation in sensing. The linear and nonlinear acoustic wave equation, sources of sound, including musical instruments. Reflection, refraction, transmission and absorption. Bearing and range estimation by sensor array processing, beamforming, matched filtering, and focusing. Diffraction, bandwidth, ambient noise and reverberation limitations. Scattering from objects, surfaces and volumes by Green's Theorem. Forward scatter, shadows, Babinet's principle, extinction and attenuation. Ray tracing and waveguides in remote sensing. Applications to acoustic, radar, seismic, thermal and optical sensing and exploration. Students taking the graduate version of the subject complete additional assignments.
N. C. Makris
No textbook information available

Solid Mechanics and Materials

2.071 Mechanics of Solid Materials
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 2.002
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (5-233) Recitation: F3 (1-135) +final
______
Fundamentals of solid mechanics applied to the mechanical behavior of engineering materials. Kinematics of deformation, stress, and balance principles. Isotropic linear elasticity and isotropic linear thermal elasticity. Variational and energy methods. Linear viscoelasticity. Small-strain elastic-plastic deformation. Mechanics of large deformation; nonlinear hyperelastic material behavior. Foundations and methods of deformable-solid mechanics, including relevant applications. Provides base for further study and specialization within solid mechanics, including continuum mechanics, computational mechanics (e.g., finite-element methods), plasticity, fracture mechanics, structural mechanics, and nonlinear behavior of materials.
L. Anand
No textbook information available

2.072 Mechanics of Continuous Media
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 2.071
Units: 3-0-9
______
Principles and applications of continuum mechanics. Kinematics of deformation. Thermomechanical conservation laws. Stress and strain measures. Constitutive equations including some examples of their microscopic basis. Solution of some basic problems for various materials as relevant in materials science, fluid dynamics, and structural analysis. Inherently nonlinear phenomena in continuum mechanics. Variational principles.
L. Anand

2.073 Solid Mechanics: Plasticity and Inelastic Deformation
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 2.071
Units: 3-0-9
______
Physical basis of plastic/inelastic deformation of solids; metals, polymers, granular/rock-like materials. Continuum constitutive models for small and large deformation of elastic-(visco)plastic solids. Analytical and numerical solution of selected boundary value problems. Applications to deformation processing of metals.
L. Anand

2.074 Solid Mechanics: Elasticity
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 2.002 and 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to the theory and applications of nonlinear and linear elasticity. Strain, stress, and stress-strain relations. Several of the following topics: Spherically and cylindrically symmetric problems. Anisotropic material behavior. Piezoelectric materials. Effective properties of composites. Structural mechanics of beams and plates. Energy methods for structures. Two-dimensional problems. Stress concentration at cavities, concentrated loads, cracks, and dislocations. Variational methods and their applications; introduction to the finite element method. Introduction to wave propagation. 
R. Abeyaratne

2.075 Mechanics of Soft Materials
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers a number of fundamental topics in the emerging field of soft and active materials, including polymer mechanics and physics, poroelasticity, viscoelasticity, and mechanics of electro-magneto-active and other responsive polymers. Lectures, recitations, and experiments elucidate the basic mechanical and thermodynamic principles underlying soft and active materials. Develops an understanding of the fundamental mechanisms for designing soft materials that possess extraordinary properties, such as stretchable, tough, strong, resilient, adhesive and responsive to external stimuli, from molecular to bulk scales.
X. Zhao

2.076[J] Mechanics of Heterogeneous Materials
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 16.223[J])
Prereq: 2.002, 3.032, 16.20, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Mechanical behavior of heterogeneous materials such as thin-film microelectro- mechanical systems (MEMS) materials and advanced filamentary composites, with particular emphasis on laminated structural configurations. Anisotropic and crystallographic elasticity formulations. Structure, properties and mechanics of constituents such as films, substrates, active materials, fibers, and matrices including nano- and micro-scale constituents. Effective properties from constituent properties. Classical laminated plate theory for modeling structural behavior including extrinsic and intrinsic strains and stresses such as environmental effects. Introduction to buckling of plates and nonlinear (deformations) plate theory. Other issues in modeling heterogeneous materials such as fracture/failure of laminated structures.
B. L. Wardle, S-G. Kim

2.077 Solid Mechanics: Coupled Theories
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 2.072
Units: 3-0-9
______
Complex problems in solid mechanics for a wide range of applications require a knowledge of the foundational balance laws of mechanics, thermodynamics, and electrodynamics of continua, together with a knowledge of the structure and properties of the materials which are provided by particular constitutive models for the so-called smart-materials, and the materials used in the many applications that involve thermo-, chemo-, electro- and/or magneto-mechanical coupling. Reviews the basic balance laws and the constitutive equations of the classical coupled theories of thermoelasticity and poroelasticity, and provides an introduction to the nonlinear theories of electroelasticity and magnetoelasticity. Examines the governing coupled partial differential equations and suitable boundary conditions. Discusses numerical solutions of the partial differential equations.
Staff

2.080[J] Structural Mechanics
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.573[J])
Prereq: 2.002
Units: 4-0-8
______
Applies solid mechanics fundamentals to the analysis of marine, civil, and mechanical structures. Continuum concepts of stress, deformation, constitutive response and boundary conditions are reviewed in selected examples. The principle of virtual work guides mechanics modeling of slender structural components (e.g., beams; shafts; cables, frames; plates; shells), leading to appropriate simplifying assumptions. Introduction to elastic stability. Material limits to stress in design. Variational methods for computational structural mechanics analysis.
D. Parks

2.081[J] Plates and Shells: Static and Dynamic Analysis
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 16.230[J])
Prereq: 2.071, 2.080, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (5-134) Recitation: W2.30 (5-134)
______
Stress-strain relations for plate and shell elements. Differential equations of equilibrium. Energy methods and approximate solutions. Bending and buckling of rectangular plates. Post-buckling and ultimate strength of cold formed sections and typical stiffened panels used in aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering; offshore technology; and ship building. Geometry of curved surfaces. General theory of elastic, axisymmetric shells and their equilibrium equations. Buckling, crushing and bending strength of cylindrical shells with applications. Propagation of 1-D elastic waves in rods, geometrical and material dispersion. Plane, Rayleigh surface, and 3-D waves. 1-D plastic waves. Response of plates and shells to high-intensity loads. Dynamic plasticity and fracture. Application to crashworthiness and impact loading of structures.
W. M. van Rees
No textbook information available

2.082 Ship Structural Analysis and Design
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 2.081 and 2.701
Units: 3-0-3
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR2.30-4 (1-371)
______
Design application of analysis developed in 2.081J. Ship longitudinal strength and hull primary stresses. Ship structural design concepts. Design limit states including plate bending, column and panel buckling, panel ultimate strength, and plastic analysis. Matrix stiffness, and introduction to finite element analysis. Computer projects on the structural design of a midship module.
R. Mccord
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

2.083[J] Topology Optimization of Structures
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.583[J], 16.215[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers free-form topology design of structures using formal optimization methods and mathematical programs, including design of structural systems, mechanisms, and material architectures. Strong emphasis on designing with gradient-based optimizers, finite element methods, and design problems governed by structural mechanics. Incorporates optimization theory and computational mechanics fundamentals, problem formulation, sensitivity analysis; and introduces cutting-edge extensions, including to other and multiple physics. 
J. Carstensen

Computational Engineering

2.0911[J] Computational Design and Fabrication
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.4420[J])
(Subject meets with 6.8420)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and (6.1010 or permission of instructor)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces computational aspects of computer-aided design and manufacturing. Explores relevant methods in the context of additive manufacturing (e.g., 3D printing). Topics include computer graphics (geometry modeling, solid modeling, procedural modeling), physically-based simulation (kinematics, finite element method), 3D scanning/geometry processing, and an overview of 3D fabrication methods. Exposes students to the latest research in computational fabrication. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.
W. Matusik

2.095 Introduction to Finite Element Methods
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 2.098)
Prereq: 2.086 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Ordinary differential equation boundary value problems: 2nd-order, 4th-order spatial operators, eigenproblems. Partial differential equations for scalar fields: elliptic, parabolic, hyperbolic. Strong statement, weak form, minimization principle. Rayleigh-Ritz, Galerkin projection. Numerical interpolation, integration, differentiation, best-fit. Finite element method for spatial discretization in one and two space dimensions: formulation (linear, quadratic approximation), mesh generation, bases and discrete equations, uniform and adaptive refinement, a priori and a posteriori error estimates, sparse solvers, implementation, testing. Finite difference-finite element methods for mixed initial-boundary value problems; nonlinear problems and Newton iteration; linear elasticity. Applications in heat transfer and structural analysis. Assignments require MATLAB coding. Students taking graduate version complete additional work.
A. Patera

2.096[J] Introduction to Modeling and Simulation
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.7300[J], 16.910[J])
Prereq: 18.03 or 18.06
Units: 3-6-3
______
Introduction to computational techniques for modeling and simulation of a variety of large and complex engineering, science, and socio-economical systems. Prepares students for practical use and development of computational engineering in their own research and future work. Topics include mathematical formulations (e.g., automatic assembly of constitutive and conservation principles); linear system solvers (sparse and iterative); nonlinear solvers (Newton and homotopy); ordinary, time-periodic and partial differential equation solvers; and model order reduction. Students develop their own models and simulators for self-proposed applications, with an emphasis on creativity, teamwork, and communication. Prior basic linear algebra required and at least one numerical programming language (e.g., MATLAB, Julia, Python, etc.) helpful.
L. Daniel

2.097[J] Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.7330[J], 16.920[J])
Prereq: 18.03 or 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers the fundamentals of modern numerical techniques for a wide range of linear and nonlinear elliptic, parabolic, and hyperbolic partial differential and integral equations. Topics include mathematical formulations; finite difference, finite volume, finite element, and boundary element discretization methods; and direct and iterative solution techniques. The methodologies described form the foundation for computational approaches to engineering systems involving heat transfer, solid mechanics, fluid dynamics, and electromagnetics. Computer assignments requiring programming.
J. Peraire

2.098 Introduction to Finite Element Methods
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 2.095)
Prereq: 2.086 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Ordinary differential equation boundary value problems: 2nd-order, 4th-order spatial operators; eigenproblems. Partial differential equations for scalar fields: elliptic, parabolic, hyperbolic. Strong statement, weak form, minimization principle. Rayleigh-Ritz,  Galerkin projection. Numerical interpolation, integration, differentiation; best-fit. Finite element method for spatial discretization in one and two space dimensions: formulation (linear, quadratic approximation), mesh generation, bases and discrete equations, uniform and adaptive refinement, a priori and a posteriori error estimates, sparse solvers, implementation, testing. Finite difference-finite element methods for mixed initial-boundary value problems; nonlinear problems and Newton iteration; linear elasticity. Applications in heat transfer and structural analysis. Assignments require MATLAB coding. Students taking graduate version complete additional work.
A. Patera

2.099[J] Computational Mechanics of Materials
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 16.225[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (33-419) Recitation: W4 (33-419)
______
Formulation of numerical (finite element) methods for the analysis of the nonlinear continuum response of materials. The range of material behavior considered includes finite deformation elasticity and inelasticity. Numerical formulation and algorithms include variational formulation and variational constitutive updates; finite element discretization; constrained problems; time discretization and convergence analysis. Strong emphasis on the (parallel) computer implementation of algorithms in programming assignments. The application to real engineering applications and problems in engineering science are stressed throughout. Experience in either C++, C, or Fortran required.
R. Radovitzky
No textbook information available

System Dynamics and Control

2.110 Information, Entropy, and Computation
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-0-6
______
Explores the ultimate limits to communication and computation, with an emphasis on the physical nature of information and information processing. Topics include information and computation, digital signals, codes, and compression. Biological representations of information. Logic circuits, computer architectures, and algorithmic information. Noise, probability, and error correction. The concept of entropy applied to channel capacity and to the second law of thermodynamics. Reversible and irreversible operations and the physics of computation. Quantum computation.
S. Lloyd

2.111[J] Quantum Computation
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.6410[J], 8.370[J], 18.435[J])
Prereq: 8.05, 18.06, 18.700, 18.701, or 18.C06
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to the theory and practice of quantum computation. Topics covered: physics of information processing; quantum algorithms including the factoring algorithm and Grover's search algorithm; quantum error correction; quantum communication and cryptography. Knowledge of quantum mechanics helpful but not required.
P. Shor

2.12 Introduction to Robotics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 2.120)
Prereq: 2.004
Units: 3-2-7
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (1-190) Lab: R11-1 (5-007) or R1-3 (5-007) or R3-5 (5-007) or F9-11 (5-007) or F11-1 (5-007) or F2-4 (5-007)
______
Cross-disciplinary studies in robot mechanics and intelligence. Emphasizes physical understanding of robot kinematics and dynamics, differential motion and energy method, design and control of robotic arms and mobile robots, and actuators, drives, and transmission. Second half of course focuses on algorithmic thinking and computation, computer vision and perception, planning and control for manipulation, localization and navigation, machine learning for robotics, and human-robot systems. Weekly laboratories include brushless DC motor control, design and fabrication of robotic arms and vehicles, robot vision and navigation, and programming and system integration using Robot Operating System (ROS). Group term project builds intelligent robots for specific applications of interest. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 majors and minors.
H. Asada
No textbook information available

2.120 Introduction to Robotics
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 2.12)
Prereq: 2.004 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-2-7
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (1-190) Lab: R11-1 (5-007) or R1-3 (5-007) or R3-5 (5-007) or F9-11 (5-007) or F11-1 (5-007) or F2-4 (5-007)
______
Cross-disciplinary studies in robot mechanics and intelligence. Emphasizes physical understanding of robot kinematics and dynamics, differential motion and energy method, design and control of robotic arms and mobile robots, and actuators, drives, and transmission. Second half of course focuses on algorithmic thinking and computation, computer vision and perception, planning and control for manipulation, localization and navigation, machine learning for robotics, and human-robot systems. Weekly laboratories include brushless DC motor control, design and fabrication of robotic arms and vehicles, robot vision and navigation, and programming and system integration using Robot Operating System (ROS). Group term project builds intelligent robots for specific applications of interest. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity.
H. Asada
No textbook information available

2.121 Stochastic Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 2.122, 2.22)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 2.004
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (3-333)
______
Response of systems to stochastic excitation with design applications. Linear time-invariant systems, convolution, Fourier and Laplace transforms. Probability and statistics. Discrete and continuous random variables, derived distributions. Stochastic processes, auto-correlation. Stationarity and ergodicity, power spectral density. Systems driven by random functions, Wiener-Khinchine theorem.  Sampling and filtering. Short- and long-term statistics, statistics of extremes. Problems from mechanical vibrations and statistical linearization, statistical mechanics, and system prediction/identification. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments and a short-term project.
T.P. Sapsis
No required or recommended textbooks

2.122 Stochastic Systems
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 2.121, 2.22)
Prereq: 2.004 and 2.087
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (3-333)
______
Response of systems to stochastic excitation with design applications. Linear time-invariant systems, convolution, Fourier and Laplace transforms. Probability and statistics. Discrete and continuous random variables, derived distributions. Stochastic processes, auto-correlation. Stationarity and ergodicity, power spectral density. Systems driven by random functions, Wiener-Khinchine theorem.  Sampling and filtering. Short- and long-term statistics, statistics of extremes. Problems from mechanical vibrations and statistical linearization, statistical mechanics, and system prediction/identification. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments and a short-term project.
T. P. Sapsis
No textbook information available

2.124[J] Robotics: Science and Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring) Institute Lab
(Same subject as 6.4200[J], 16.405[J])
Prereq: ((1.00 or 6.100A) and (2.003, 6.1010, 6.1210, or 16.06)) or permission of instructor
Units: 2-6-4
Lecture: MWF1 (26-100) Lab: MW3-5 (32-082)
______
Presents concepts, principles, and algorithmic foundations for robots and autonomous vehicles operating in the physical world. Topics include sensing, kinematics and dynamics, state estimation, computer vision, perception, learning, control, motion planning, and embedded system development. Students design and implement advanced algorithms on complex robotic platforms capable of agile autonomous navigation and real-time interaction with the physical word. Students engage in extensive written and oral communication exercises. Enrollment limited.
L. Carlone
No textbook information available

2.131 Advanced Instrumentation and Measurement
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-6-3
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (3-370) Lab: TR2 (3-370)
______
Provides training in advanced instrumentation and measurement techniques. Topics include system level design, fabrication and evaluation with emphasis on systems involving concepts and technology from mechanics, optics, electronics, chemistry and biology. Simulation, modeling and design software. Use of a wide range of instruments/techniques (e.g., scanning electron microscope, dynamic signal/system analyzer, impedance analyzer, laser interferometer) and fabrication/machining methods (e.g., laser micro-machining, 3D printing, computer controlled turning, and machining centers). Theory and practice of both linear and nonlinear system identification techniques. Lab sessions include instruction and group project work. No final exam.
I. W. Hunter
No textbook information available

2.132 Instrumentation and Measurement: MICA Projects
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 2.133)
Prereq: 2.671 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-6-3
______
Engages students in project-based learning by using a wide variety of experimental setups called MICA (Measurement, Instrumentation, Control, and Analysis) Workstations to learn about sensors, actuators, instrumentation, and measurement techniques. Over 50 MICA Workstations allow experiments to be performed on a broad range of phenomena including those found in optics, electronics, acoustics, biology, botany, material science, mechanics, thermal, and fluid systems. Experiments utilize Mathematica Notebooks in which students conduct data analysis and model fitting, and complete homework assignments. The integration of ChatGPT into Mathematica provides help in the learning process. Students also build new Workstations guided by CAD models and develop the Mathematica code to run experiments, perform data analyses, and model parameter estimation. Students taking graduate version build more sophisticated Workstations..
I. Hunter

2.133 Instrumentation and Measurement: MICA Projects
(New)
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 2.132)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-6-3
______
Engages students in project-based learning by using a wide variety of experimental setups called MICA (Measurement, Instrumentation, Control, and Analysis) Workstations to learn about sensors, actuators, instrumentation, and measurement techniques. Over 50 MICA Workstations allow experiments to be performed on a broad range of phenomena including those found in optics, electronics, acoustics, biology, botany, material science, mechanics, thermal, and fluid systems. Experiments utilize Mathematica Notebooks in which students conduct data analysis and model fitting, and complete homework assignments. The integration of ChatGPT into Mathematica provides help in the learning process. Students also build new Workstations guided by CAD models and develop the Mathematica code to run experiments, perform data analyses, and model parameter estimation. Students taking graduate version build more sophisticated Workstations.
I. Hunter

2.14 Analysis and Design of Feedback Control Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 2.140)
Prereq: 2.004
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (3-370) Lab: T2-5 (1-004) or W2-5 (1-004) or R2-5 (1-004)
______
Develops the fundamentals of feedback control using linear transfer function system models. Analysis in time and frequency domains. Design in the s-plane (root locus) and in the frequency domain (loop shaping). Describing functions for stability of certain non-linear systems. Extension to state variable systems and multivariable control with observers. Discrete and digital hybrid systems and use of z-plane design. Extended design case studies and capstone group projects. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 majors and minors.
D. Trumper
No textbook information available

2.140 Analysis and Design of Feedback Control Systems
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 2.14)
Prereq: 2.004 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (3-370) Lab: T2-5 (1-004) or W2-5 (1-004) or R2-5 (1-004)
______
Develops the fundamentals of feedback control using linear transfer function system models. Analysis in time and frequency domains. Design in the s-plane (root locus) and in the frequency domain (loop shaping). Describing functions for stability of certain non-linear systems. Extension to state variable systems and multivariable control with observers. Discrete and digital hybrid systems and use of z-plane design. Extended design case studies and capstone group projects. Student taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity.
D.L. Trumper
No textbook information available

2.141 Modeling and Simulation of Dynamic Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Modeling multidomain engineering systems at a level of detail suitable for design and control system implementation. Network representation, state-space models; multiport energy storage and dissipation, Legendre transforms; nonlinear mechanics, transformation theory, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian forms; Control-relevant properties. Application examples may include electro-mechanical transducers, mechanisms, electronics, fluid and thermal systems, compressible flow, chemical processes, diffusion, and wave transmission.
N. Hogan

2.145 Design of Compliant Mechanisms, Machines and Systems
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 2.147)
Prereq: 2.003 and 2.007
Units: 3-3-6
______
Design, modeling and integration of compliance into systems that enable performance which is impractical to obtain via rigid mechanisms. Includes multiple strategies (pseudo-rigid body, topology synthesis, freedom and constraint topology) to engineer compliant mechanisms for mechanical systems. Emphasis is placed upon the integration of first principles (math/physics/engineering classes) to optimize kinematics, stiffness, energy storage/release, load capacity, efficiency and integration with actuation/sensing. Synthesize concepts, optimize them via computational models and test prototypes. Prototypes integrate multiple engineering sub-disciplines (e.g. mechanics + dynamics or mechanics + energy) and are drawn from biological systems, prosthetics, energy harvesting, precision instrumentation, robotics, space-based systems and others. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Culpepper

2.147 Design of Compliant Mechanisms, Machines and Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 2.145)
Prereq: 2.003 and 2.007
Units: 3-3-6
______
Design, modeling and integration of compliance into systems that enable performance which is impractical to obtain via rigid mechanisms. Students learn strategies (pseudo-rigid body, topology synthesis, freedom and constraint topology) to engineer compliant mechanisms for mechanical systems. Emphasis is placed upon the integration of first principles (math/physics/engineering classes) to optimize kinematics, stiffness, energy storage/release, load capacity, efficiency and integration with actuation/sensing. Students synthesize concepts, optimize them via computational models and test prototypes. Prototypes integrate multiple engineering sub-disciplines (e.g. mechanics + dynamics or mechanics + energy) and are drawn from biological systems, prosthetics, energy harvesting, precision instrumentation, robotics, space-based systems and others. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Culpepper

2.151 Advanced System Dynamics and Control
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 2.004 and (2.087 or 18.06)
Units: 4-0-8
______
Analytical descriptions of state-determined dynamic physical systems; time and frequency domain representations; system characteristics - controllability, observability, stability; linear and nonlinear system responses. Modification of system characteristics using feedback. State observers, Kalman filters. Modeling/performance trade-offs in control system design. Basic optimization tools. Positive systems. Emphasizes applications to physical systems.
N. Hogan

2.152[J] Nonlinear Control
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 9.110[J])
Prereq: 2.151, 6.7100, 16.31, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (5-234)
______
Introduction to nonlinear control and estimation in physical and biological systems. Nonlinear stability theory, Lyapunov analysis, Barbalat's lemma. Feedback linearization, differential flatness, internal dynamics. Sliding surfaces. Adaptive nonlinear control and estimation. Multiresolution bases, nonlinear system identification. Contraction analysis, differential stability theory. Nonlinear observers. Asynchronous distributed computation and learning. Concurrent synchronization, polyrhythms. Monotone nonlinear systems. Emphasizes application to physical systems (robots, aircraft, spacecraft, underwater vehicles, reaction-diffusion processes, machine vision, oscillators, internet), machine learning, computational neuroscience, and systems biology. Includes term projects.
J. Slotine
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

2.153 Adaptive Control and Connections to Machine Learning
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 2.151
Units: 3-0-9
______
Lays the foundation of adaptive control, and investigates its interconnections with machine learning. Explores fundamental principles of adaptive control, including parameter estimation, recursive algorithms, stability properties, and conditions for convergence. Studies their relationship with machine learning, including the minimization of a performance error and fast convergence. Discusses robustness and regularization in both fields. Derives conditions of learning and implications of imperfect learning. Examines the trade-off between stability and learning. Focuses throughout the term on dynamic systems and on problems where real-time control is needed. Uses examples from aerospace, propulsion, automotive, and energy systems to elucidate the underlying concepts.
A. Annaswamy

2.154 Maneuvering and Control of Surface and Underwater Vehicles
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 2.22
Units: 3-0-9
______
Maneuvering motions of surface and underwater vehicles. Derivation of equations of motion, hydrodynamic coefficients. Memory effects. Linear and nonlinear forms of the equations of motion. Control surfaces modeling and design. Engine, propulsor, and transmission systems modeling and simulation during maneuvering. Stability of motion. Principles of multivariable automatic control. Optimal control, Kalman filtering, loop transfer recovery. Term project: applications chosen from autopilots for surface vehicles; towing in open seas; remotely operated vehicles.
N. Patrikalakis

2.155 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Engineering Design
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 2.156)
Prereq: 2.086, 6.100A, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques in engineering design applications. Emphasizes state-of-the-art machine learning techniques to design new products or systems or solve complex engineering problems. Lectures cover the theoretical and practical aspects of machine learning and optimization methods. Challenge problems, research paper discussions, and interactive in-class activities are used to highlight the unique challenges of machine learning for design applications. A group term project on students' applications of interest. Basic programming and machine learning familiarity are recommended. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. 
F. Ahmed

2.156 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Engineering Design
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 2.155)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques in engineering design applications. Emphasizes state-of-the-art machine learning techniques to design new products or systems or solve complex engineering problems. Lectures cover the theoretical and practical aspects of machine learning and optimization methods. Challenge problems, research paper discussions, and interactive in-class activities are used to highlight the unique challenges of machine learning for design applications. A group term project on students' applications of interest. Basic programming and machine learning familiarity are recommended. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
F. Ahmed

2.16 Learning Machines
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 2.168)
Prereq: 2.086, 18.075, and (6.3700 or 18.05)
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduces fundamental concepts and encourages open-ended exploration of the increasingly topical intersection between artificial intelligence and the physical sciences. Energy and information, and their respective optimality conditions are used to define supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms; as well as ordinary and partial differential equations. Subsequently, physical systems with complex constitutive relationships are drawn from elasticity, biophysics, fluid mechanics, hydrodynamics, acoustics, and electromagnetics to illustrate how machine learning-inspired optimization can approximate solutions to forward and inverse problems in these domains.
Staff

2.160 Identification, Estimation, and Learning
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 2.151, 6.7100, 16.31, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a broad theoretical basis for estimation, identification, and learning of linear and nonlinear systems at the cross-disciplinary area of system dynamics and control, machine learning, and statistics. Recursive least squares estimate, partial least squares, Kalman filter and extended Kalman filter, Bayes filter and particle filter; parametric and non-parametric system identification, Wiener-Hopf equation, persistent excitation, unbiased estimates, asymptotic variance, experiment design; function approximation theory, neural nets, radial basis functions, Koopman operator for exact linearization of nonlinear systems, and dynamic mode decomposition. Context-oriented mini-projects: robotics, self-driving cars, biomedical engineering, wearable sensors.
H. Asada

2.165[J] Robotics
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 9.175[J])
Prereq: 2.151 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to robotics and learning in machines. Kinematics and dynamics of rigid body systems. Adaptive control, system identification, sparse representations. Force control, adaptive visual servoing. Task planning, teleoperation, imitation learning. Navigation. Underactuated systems, approximate optimization and control. Dynamics of learning and optimization in networks. Elements of biological planning and control. Motor primitives, entrainment, active sensing, binding models. Term projects.
J-J Slotine

2.168 Learning Machines
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 2.16)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces fundamental concepts and encourages open-ended exploration of the increasingly topical intersection between artificial intelligence and the physical sciences. Energy and information, and their respective optimality conditions are used to define supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms; as well as ordinary and partial differential equations. Subsequently, physical systems with complex constitutive relationships are drawn from elasticity, biophysics, fluid mechanics, hydrodynamics, acoustics, and electromagnetics to illustrate how machine learning-inspired optimization can approximate solutions to forward and inverse problems in these domains.
G. Barbastathis

2.171 Analysis and Design of Digital Control Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 2.14, 2.151, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
______
A comprehensive introduction to digital control system design, reinforced with hands-on laboratory experiences. Major topics include discrete-time system theory and analytical tools; design of digital control systems via approximation from continuous time; direct discrete-time design; loop-shaping design for performance and robustness; state-space design; observers and state-feedback; quantization and other nonlinear effects; implementation issues. Laboratory experiences and design projects connect theory with practice.
D. L. Trumper

2.174[J] Advancing Mechanics and Materials via Machine Learning
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.121[J])
(Subject meets with 1.052)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (1-150)
______
Concepts in mechanics (solid mechanics: continuum, micro, meso, and molecular mechanics; elasticity, plasticity, fracture and buckling) and machine learning (stochastic optimization, neural networks, convolutional neural nets, adversarial neural nets, graph neural nets, recurrent neural networks and long/short-term memory nets, attention models, variational/autoencoders) introduced and applied to mechanics problems. Covers numerical methods, data and image processing, dataset generation, curation and collection, and experimental validation using additive manufacturing. Modules cover: foundations, fracture mechanics and size effects, molecular mechanics and applications to biomaterials (proteins), forward and inverse problems, mechanics of architected materials, and time dependent mechanical phenomena. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Buehler
No required or recommended textbooks

2.177[J] Designing Virtual Worlds
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as CMS.342[J])
(Subject meets with 2.178[J], CMS.942[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-2-6 [P/D/F]
______
Three primary areas of focus are: creating new Virtual Reality experiences; mapping the state of emerging tools; and hosting guests - leaders in the VR/XR community, who serve as coaches for projects. Students have significant leeway to customize their own learning environment. As the field is rapidly evolving, each semester focuses on a new aspect of virtual worlds, based on the current state of innovations. Students work in teams of interdisciplinary peers from Berklee College of Music and Harvard University. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
K. Zolot

2.178[J] Designing Virtual Worlds
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as CMS.942[J])
(Subject meets with 2.177[J], CMS.342[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-2-6 [P/D/F]
______
Three primary areas of focus are: creating new Virtual Reality experiences; mapping the state of emerging tools; and hosting guests - leaders in the VR/XR community, who serve as coaches for projects. Students have significant leeway to customize their own learning environment. As the field is rapidly evolving, each semester focuses on a new aspect of virtual worlds, based on the current state of innovations. Students work in teams of interdisciplinary peers from Berklee College of Music and Harvard University. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
K. Zolot

2.18 Biomolecular Feedback Systems
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 2.180)
Prereq: Biology (GIR), 18.03, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (4-265)
______
Comprehensive introduction to mathematical modeling, dynamic analysis, and control of cellular biomolecular processes. Emphasizes design approaches for sophisticated biomolecular networks that are robust to the environment, both in bacterial and mammalian cells. Provides a review of biology concepts and detailed description of classical and novel mechanisms to regulate gene expression. Presents how to use these mechanisms to design feedback and feedforward control architectures. Covers basic enabling technologies from synthetic biology, engineering principles for designing biological functions, modular design techniques, and host-circuit interaction. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
D. Del Vecchio
No textbook information available

2.180 Biomolecular Feedback Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 2.18)
Prereq: Biology (GIR), 18.03, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (4-265)
______
Comprehensive introduction to mathematical modeling, dynamic analysis, and control of cellular biomolecular processes. Emphasizes design approaches for sophisticated biomolecular networks that are robust to the environment, both in bacterial and mammalian cells. Provides a review of biology concepts and detailed description of classical and novel mechanisms to regulate gene expression. Presents how to use these mechanisms to design feedback and feedforward control architectures. Covers basic enabling technologies from synthetic biology, engineering principles for designing biological functions, modular design techniques, and host-circuit interaction. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
D. Del Vecchio
No textbook information available

2.183[J] Biomechanics and Neural Control of Movement
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 9.34[J])
(Subject meets with 2.184)
Prereq: 2.004 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (1-242)
______
Presents a quantitative description of how biomechanical and neural factors interact in human sensory-motor behavior. Students survey recent literature on how motor behavior is controlled, comparing biological and robotic approaches to similar tasks. Topics may include a review of relevant neural, muscular and skeletal physiology, neural feedback and "equilibrium-point" theories, co-contraction strategies, impedance control, kinematic redundancy, optimization, intermittency, contact tasks and tool use. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
N. Hogan
No textbook information available

2.184 Biomechanics and Neural Control of Movement
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 2.183[J], 9.34[J])
Prereq: 2.004 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (1-242)
______
Presents a quantitative description of how biomechanical and neural factors interact in human sensory-motor behavior. Students survey recent literature on how motor behavior is controlled, comparing biological and robotic approaches to similar tasks. Topics may include a review of relevant neural, muscular and skeletal physiology, neural feedback and "equilibrium-point" theories, co-contraction strategies, impedance control, kinematic redundancy, optimization, intermittency, contact tasks and tool use. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
N. Hogan
No textbook information available


left arrow | 2.000-2.199 | 2.20-2.7999 | 2.80-2.999 plus Thesis, UROP, UPOP | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 3: Materials Science and Engineering
IAP/Spring 2025


3.000 Coffee Matters: Using the Breakerspace to Make the Perfect Cup
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-1-1 [P/D/F]
Lecture: T11 (37-212) Lab: TBA
______
Uses the Course 3 (DMSE) Breakerspace to delve into the world of materials science through brewing, sipping, and testing several forms of coffee and espresso. Presents cutting-edge materials characterization tools, including optical and electron microscopes, spectroscopy techniques, and hardness/strength testing. Through experiments to analyze the composition and microstructure of coffee beans, grinds, and brewing equipment, students have the opportunity to learn how material properties influence the taste, aroma, and quality of espresso. Equips students with the knowledge and skills to appreciate coffee on a whole new level through application of materials characterization techniques, consideration of relevant physics and chemistry, and sampling. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students.
J. Grossman, J. Lavallee
No textbook information available

3.001 Science and Engineering of Materials
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
Lecture: T12-2 (8-205)
______
Provides a broad introduction to topics in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering's core subjects. Classes emphasize hands-on activities and conceptual and visual examples of materials phenomena and materials engineering, interspersed with guest speakers from inside and outside academia to show career paths. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students. Preference to first-year students.
F. Ross
No textbook information available

3.002 Materials for Energy and Sustainability
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Materials play a central role in the ongoing global transformation towards more sustainable means of harvesting, storing, and conserving energy, through better batteries, fuel cells, hydrogen electrolyzers, photovoltaics, and the like. Methods for producing materials such as cement, steel, ammonia, and ethylene, which rank amongst today's largest industrial emitters of greenhouse gases, are being re-invented. Much of this work is taking place at MIT and surrounding cleantech startups. This class discusses the underlying science of selected new technologies, the challenges which must be overcome, and the magnitude of their potential impact. Visits to the startups behind each case study and meetings with the scientists and engineers creating these technologies are included. Subject can count toward 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Preference to first-year students.
Y. Chiang

3.003 Small Planet Engineering: Climate, Energy, and Sustainability
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.004)
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (2-143)
______
Introduces students to the interdisciplinary nature of 21st-century engineering projects with three threads of learning: a technical toolkit, a social science toolkit, and a methodology for problem-based learning. Students encounter the social, political, economic, and technological challenges of engineering practice via case studies and engineering projects focused on climate, energy, and sustainability. Includes a six-stage term project in which student teams develop solutions through exercises in project planning, analysis, design, optimization, demonstration, reporting, and team building. 3.004 includes an additional solar cell design and fabrication project. Preference to first-year students.
S. Saini
No textbook information available

3.004 Small Planet Engineering: Climate, Energy, and Sustainability
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.003)
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-1-8
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (2-143)
______
Introduces students to the interdisciplinary nature of 21st-century engineering projects with three threads of learning: a technical toolkit, a social science toolkit, and a methodology for problem-based learning. Students encounter the social, political, economic, and technological challenges of engineering practice via case studies and engineering projects focused on climate, energy, and sustainability. Includes a six-stage term project in which student teams develop solutions through exercises in project planning, analysis, design, optimization, demonstration, reporting, and team building. 3.004 includes an additional solar cell design and fabrication project.
S. Saini
No textbook information available

3.006 NEET Seminar: Advanced Materials Machines
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-2
Lecture: R EVE (7 PM) (3-001)
______
Seminar for students enrolled in the Advanced Materials Machines NEET thread. Focuses on topics around innovative materials manufacturing via guest lectures and research discussions.
Fall: N. Melenbrink
Spring: N. Melenbrink
No textbook information available

3.0061[J] Introduction to Design Thinking and Rapid Prototyping
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 22.03[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-2-2
______
Focuses on design thinking, an iterative process that uses divergent and convergent thinking to approach design problems and prototype and test solutions. Includes experiences in creativity, problem scoping, and rapid prototyping skills. Skills are built over the course of the semester through design exercises and projects. Enrollment limited; preference to Course 22 & Course 3 majors and minors, and NEET students.
N. Melenbrink

3.009 Materials, Mechanics, and Flight: Birds, an Engineer?s Delight
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-2-5
______
Examines how birds work from an engineering perspective and how engineers design materials, lightweight structures, and aircraft using concepts learned from birds. Topics include: materials science of feathers, and how engineers design materials for structural color, thermal insulation, and water repellency; how feathers can create or suppress sound, and how engineers reduce the sound produced by wind turbine blades by mimicking barn owl flight feathers; mechanics of bird bones, structural weight reduction, and its applications to lightweight structures; how birds fly, how the Wright brothers studied bird flight to design their plane, and how modern aircraft fly. Design project allows students to explore different fields of engineering. Preference given to first-year students.
L. Gibson

3.010 Structure of Materials
______

Undergrad (Fall) Institute Lab
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR); Coreq: 18.03 or 18.032
Units: 3-2-7
______
Describes the fundamentals of bonding and structure that underpin materials science. Structure of noncrystalline, crystalline, and liquid-crystalline states across length scales including short and long range ordering. Point, line, and surface imperfections in materials. Diffraction and structure determination. Covers molecular geometry and levels of structure in biological materials. Includes experimental and computational exploration of the connections between structure, properties, processing, and performance of materials. Covers methodology of technical communication (written/oral) with a view to integrate experimental design, execution, and analysis.
C. Ross, J. Casamento

3.013 Mechanics of Materials
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: Physics I (GIR) and Coreq: 18.03; or permission of instructor
Units: 3-2-7
______
Basic concepts of solid mechanics and mechanical behavior of materials: elasticity, stress-strain relationships, stress transformation, viscoelasticity, plasticity, and fracture. Continuum behavior as well as atomistic explanations of the observed behavior are described. Examples from engineering as well as biomechanics. Lab experiments, computational exercises, and demonstrations give hands-on experience of the physical concepts.
T.J. Wallin, J. Casamento

3.017 Modelling, Problem Solving, Computing, and Visualization
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: ((3.030, 3.033, or 3.020) and (6.100A, 12.010, 16.66, or 3.016B)) or permission of instructor
Units: 2-2-8
______
Covers development and design of models for materials processes and structure-property relations. Emphasizes techniques for solving equations from models or simulating their behavior. Assesses methods for visualizing solutions and aesthetics of the graphical presentation of results. Topics include symmetry and structure, classical and statistical thermodynamics, solid state physics, mechanics, phase transformations and kinetics, statistics and presentation of data.
W. C. Carter

3.019 Introduction to Symbolic and Mathematical Computing
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-1-0 [P/D/F]
______
Introduces fundamental computational techniques and applications of mathematics to prepare students for materials science and engineering curriculum. Covers elementary programming concepts, including data analysis and visualization. Students study computation/visualization and math techniques and apply them in computational software to gain familiarity with techniques used in subsequent subjects. Uses examples from material science and engineering applications, particularly from structure and mechanics of materials, including linear algebra, tensor transformations, review of calculus of several variables, numerical solutions to differential questions, and random walks.
C. Carter

3.020 Thermodynamics of Materials
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR); Coreq: 18.03 or 18.032
Units: 4-3-5
Lecture: MWF10 (4-231) Lab: T9-12 (8-107) or R9-12 (8-107) Recitation: T10 (8-119) or R10 (8-119) +final
______
Introduces the competition between energetics and disorder that underpins materials thermodynamics. Presents classical thermodynamic concepts in the context of phase equilibria, including phase transformations, phase diagrams, and chemical reactions. Includes computerized thermodynamics and an introduction to statistical thermodynamics. Includes experimental and computational laboratories. Covers methodology of technical communication with the goal of presenting technical methods in broader contexts and for broad audiences.  
R. Jaramillo, A. Gumyusenge
No required or recommended textbooks

3.021 Introduction to Modeling and Simulation
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.021, 3.021, 10.333, 22.00)
Prereq: 18.03 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR3-4.30 (4-231) Recitation: W3 (4-153)
______
Basic concepts of computer modeling and simulation in science and engineering. Uses techniques and software for simulation, data analysis and visualization. Continuum, mesoscale, atomistic and quantum methods used to study fundamental and applied problems in physics, chemistry, materials science, mechanics, engineering, and biology. Examples drawn from the disciplines above are used to understand or characterize complex structures and materials, and complement experimental observations.
M. Buehler, A. Hoffman
No textbook information available

3.023 Synthesis and Design of Materials
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 3.010
Units: 4-3-5
Lecture: MWF11 (4-231) Lab: T9-12 (8-107) or R9-12 (8-107) Recitation: T11 (8-119) or R11 (8-119)
______
Provides understanding of transitions in materials, including intermolecular forces, self-assembly, physical organic chemistry, surface chemistry and electrostatics, hierarchical structure, and reactivity. Describes these fundamentals across classes of materials, including solid-state synthesis, polymer synthesis, sol-gel chemistry, and interactions with biological systems. Includes firsthand application of lecture topics through design-oriented experiments.
R. Macfarlane, A. Gumyusenge
No textbook information available

3.029 Mathematics and Computational Thinking for Materials Scientists and Engineers I
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and (6.100A or 6.100L); Coreq: 3.020
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (24-115) Recitation: W4 (24-115) +final
______
Computational techniques and applications of mathematics to prepare students for a materials science and engineering curriculum. Students study and apply computation/visualization and math techniques. They code and visualize topics from symmetry and structure of materials and thermodynamics. Topics include symmetry and geometric transformations using linear algebra, review of calculus of several variables, numerical solutions to differential equations, tensor transformations, eigensystems, quadratic forms, and random walks.
R. Freitas
No textbook information available

3.030 Microstructural Evolution in Materials
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 3.010 and 3.020
Units: 4-2-6
______
Covers microstructures, defects, and structural evolution in all classes of materials. Topics include solution kinetics, interface stability, dislocations and point defects, diffusion, surface energetics, grains and grain boundaries, grain growth, nucleation and precipitation, and electrochemical reactions. Lectures illustrate a range of examples and applications based on metals, ceramics, electronic materials, polymers, and biomedical materials. Explores the evolution of microstructure through experiments involving optical and electron microscopy, calorimetry, electrochemical characterization, surface roughness measurements, and other characterization methods. Investigates structural transitions and structure-property relationships through practical materials examples.
G. Beach

3.033 Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Materials
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 3.010 and 3.020
Units: 4-2-6
______
Uses fundamental principles of quantum mechanics, solid state physics, electricity and magnetism to describe how the electronic, optical and magnetic properties of materials originate. Illustrates how these properties can be designed for particular applications, such as diodes, solar cells, optical fibers, and magnetic data storage. Involves experimentation using spectroscopy, resistivity, impedance and magnetometry measurements, behavior of light in waveguides, and other characterization methods. Uses practical examples to investigate structure-property relationships.
J. Lebeau

3.039 Mathematics and Computational Thinking for Materials Scientists and Engineers II
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 3.029; Coreq: 3.030
Units: 3-0-6
______
Continues 3.029 with applications to microstructural evolution, electronic optical and magnetic properties of materials. Emphasizes and reinforces topics in 3.030 with visualization, computational, and mathematical techniques. Mathematics topics include symbolic and numerical solutions to partial differential equations, Fourier analysis, Bloch waves, and linear stability analysis.
W. C. Carter

3.040 Introduction to Materials Characterization
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: (3.010 and 3.020) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-2-7
Lecture: MW10-11.30 (4-146) Lab: F10-12 (8-102A)
______
Introduction to the physical principles and common techniques of materials property measurement. Topics include metrology, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, atomic emission and infrared spectroscopy, mechanical testing, and thermal analysis. Laboratory-based assignments stress experimental technique, systematic troubleshooting, data collection and analysis, and reasoning about uncertainty. Limited to 10 due to lab space.
S. Hudson
No textbook information available

3.041 Computational Materials Design
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.321)
Prereq: 3.013 and 3.030
Units: 3-2-7
Lecture: MWF11 (1-134) Lab: R10-12 (1-242)
______
Systems approach to analysis and control of multilevel materials microstructures employing genomic fundamental databases. Applies quantitative process-structure-property-performance relations in computational parametric design of materials composition under processability constraints to achieve predicted microstructures meeting multiple property objectives established by industry performance requirements. Covers integration of macroscopic process models with microstructural simulation to accelerate materials qualification through component-level process optimization and forecasting of manufacturing variation to efficiently define minimum property design allowables. Case studies of interdisciplinary multiphysics collaborative modeling with applications across materials classes. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. 
G. Olson
No textbook information available

3.042 Materials Project Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: 3.030 or 3.033
Units: 1-6-5
Lecture: R1 (4-013) Lab: TR2-5 (4-131B)
______
Serves as the capstone design course in the DMSE curriculum. Working in groups, students explore the research and design processes necessary to build prototype materials and devices. Instruction focuses on how to conceive, design, and execute a materials development research plan, on developing competence in the fundamental laboratory and materials processing skills introduced in earlier course work, and on the preparation required for personal success in a team-based professional environment. Selected topics are covered in manufacturing, statistics, intellectual property, and ethics. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Limited to 25 due to space constraints.
Fall: M. Tarkanian
Spring: M. Tarkanian
No textbook information available

3.044 Materials Processing
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 3.010 and 3.030
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (4-231) Recitation: TR11 (13-4101) or TR12 (13-4101) +final
______
Introduction to materials processing science, with emphasis on heat transfer, chemical diffusion, and fluid flow. Uses an engineering approach to analyze industrial-scale processes, with the goal of identifying and understanding physical limitations on scale and speed. Covers materials of all classes, including metals, polymers, electronic materials, and ceramics. Considers specific processes, such as melt-processing of metals and polymers, deposition technologies (liquid, vapor, and vacuum), colloid and slurry processing, viscous shape forming, and powder consolidation.
K. Kolenbrander
No required or recommended textbooks

3.046 Advanced Thermodynamics of Materials
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 3.020 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores equilibrium thermodynamics through its application to topics in materials science and engineering. Begins with a fast-paced review of introductory classical and statistical thermodynamics. Students select additional topics to cover; examples include batteries and fuel cells, solar photovoltaics, magnetic information storage, extractive metallurgy, corrosion, thin solid films, and computerized thermodynamics.
R. Jaramillo

3.052 Nanomechanics of Materials and Biomaterials
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 3.013 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Latest scientific developments and discoveries in the field of nanomechanics, i.e. the deformation of extremely tiny (10-9 meters) areas of synthetic and biological materials. Lectures include a description of normal and lateral forces at the atomic scale, atomistic aspects of adhesion, nanoindentation, molecular details of fracture, chemical force microscopy, elasticity of individual macromolecular chains, intermolecular interactions in polymers, dynamic force spectroscopy, biomolecular bond strength measurements, and molecular motors.
C. Ortiz

3.053[J] Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.797[J], 6.4840[J], 20.310[J])
(Subject meets with 2.798[J], 3.971[J], 6.4842[J], 10.537[J], 20.410[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR) and 18.03
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (4-237) Recitation: TBA
______
Develops and applies scaling laws and the methods of continuum mechanics to biomechanical phenomena over a range of length scales. Topics include structure of tissues and the molecular basis for macroscopic properties; chemical and electrical effects on mechanical behavior; cell mechanics, motility and adhesion; biomembranes; biomolecular mechanics and molecular motors. Experimental methods for probing structures at the tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Bathe, P. So, R. Raman
No textbook information available

3.054 Cellular Solids: Structure, Properties, Applications
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 3.36)
Prereq: 3.013
Units: 3-0-9
______
Discusses processing and structure of cellular solids as they are created from polymers, metals, ceramics, glasses, and composites; derivation of models for the mechanical properties of honeycombs and foams; and how unique properties of honeycombs and foams are exploited in applications such as lightweight structural panels, energy absorption devices, and thermal insulation. Covers applications of cellular solids in medicine, such as increased fracture risk due to trabecular bone loss in patients with osteoporosis, the development of metal foam coatings for orthopedic implants, and designing porous scaffolds for tissue engineering that mimic the extracellular matrix. Includes modelling of cellular materials applied to natural materials and biomimicking. Offers a combination of online and in-person instruction. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

3.055[J] Biomaterials Science and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 20.363[J])
(Subject meets with 3.963[J], 20.463[J])
Prereq: 20.110 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers, at a molecular scale, the analysis and design of materials used in contact with biological systems, and biomimetic strategies aimed at creating new materials based on principles found in biology. Topics include molecular interaction between bio- and synthetic molecules and surfaces; design, synthesis, and processing approaches for materials that control cell functions; and application of materials science to problems in tissue engineering, drug delivery, vaccines, and cell-guiding surfaces. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
K. Ribbeck

3.056[J] Materials Physics of Neural Interfaces
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 9.67[J])
(Subject meets with 3.64[J], 9.670[J])
Prereq: 3.033 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Builds a foundation of physical principles underlying electrical, optical, and magnetic approaches to neural recording and stimulation. Discusses neural recording probes and materials considerations that influence the quality of the signals and longevity of the probes in the brain. Students then consider physical foundations for optical recording and modulation. Introduces magnetism in the context of biological systems. Focuses on magnetic neuromodulation methods and touches upon magnetoreception in nature and its physical limits. Includes team projects that focus on designing electrical, optical, or magnetic neural interface platforms for neuroscience. Concludes with an oral final exam consisting of a design component and a conversation with the instructor. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
P. Anikeeva

3.063 Polymer Physics
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 3.942, 10.568)
Prereq: 3.010
Units: 3-0-9
______
The mechanical, optical, electrical, and transport properties of polymers and other types of "soft matter" are presented with respect to the underlying physics and physical chemistry of polymers and colloids in solution, and solid states. Topics include how enthalpy and entropy determine conformation, molecular dimensions and packing of polymer chains and colloids and supramolecular materials. Examination of the structure of glassy, crystalline, and rubbery elastic states of polymers; thermodynamics of solutions, blends, crystallization; liquid crystallinity, microphase separation, and self-assembled organic-inorganic nanocomposites. Case studies of relationships between structure and function in technologically important polymeric systems. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Alexander-Katz, G. Rutledge

3.064 Polymer Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 3.013 and 3.044
Units: 3-0-9
______
Overview of polymer material science and engineering. Treatment of physical and chemical properties, mechanical characterization, processing, and their control through inspired polymer material design.
staff

3.07 Introduction to Ceramics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: (3.010 and 3.020) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Discusses structure-property relationships in ceramic materials. Includes hierarchy of structures from the atomic to microstructural levels. Defects and transport, solid-state electrochemical processes, phase equilibria, fracture and phase transformations are discussed in the context of controlling properties for various applications of ceramics. Numerous examples from current technology.
Y. Chiang

3.071 Amorphous Materials
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: (3.030 and 3.033) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (4-159)
______
Discusses the fundamental material science behind amorphous solids (non-crystalline materials). Covers formation of amorphous solids; amorphous structures and their electrical and optical properties; and characterization methods and technical applications.
J. Hu
No textbook information available

3.074 Imaging of Materials
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.34)
Prereq: 3.033
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR10-11.30 (34-302)
______
Principles and applications of (scanning) transmission electron microscopy. Topics include electron optics and aberration correction theory; modeling and simulating the interactions of electrons with the specimen; electron diffraction; image formation in transmission and scanning transmission electron microscopy; diffraction and phase contrast; imaging of crystals and crystal imperfections; review of the most recent advances in electron microscopy for bio- and nanosciences; analysis of chemical composition and electronic structure at the atomic scale. Lectures complemented by real-case studies and computer simulations/data analysis. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. LeBeau
No textbook information available

3.080 Strategic Materials Selection
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: (3.010 and 3.020) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a survey of methods for evaluating choice of material and explores the implications of that choice along economic and environmental dimensions. Topics include life cycle assessment, data uncertainty, manufacturing economics and utility analysis. Students carry out a group project selecting materials technology options based on performance characteristics beyond and including technical ones.
R. Kirchain

3.081 Industrial Ecology of Materials
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 3.560)
Prereq: (3.010 and 3.020) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers quantitative techniques to address principles of substitution, dematerialization, and waste mining implementation in materials systems. Includes life-cycle and materials flow analysis of the impacts of materials extraction; processing; use; and recycling for materials, products, and services. Student teams undertake a case study regarding materials and technology selection using the latest methods of analysis and computer-based models of materials process. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Gregory, K. Daehn, A. Arowosola

3.085[J] Venture Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.912[J], 15.373[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (9-354)
______
Provides students a rigorous and fun introduction to entrepreneurship. Introduces students to a systematic approach to building successful new ventures. Intended for students who seek to leverage their engineering and science background to create innovation-driven new products and ventures in an efficient, effective, and timely manner. Students form teams and work on creating a new venture with guidance from twice-a-week lectures, workshops, and advising sessions. Provides an opportunity for students to explore this field for future potential career or jump start an entrepreneurial career or venture. Also exposes students to the rich resources available across MIT and beyond.
B. Aulet, E. Fitzgerald
No textbook information available

3.086 Innovation and Commercialization of Materials Technology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.207)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW3.30-5 (4-237)
______
Introduces the fundamental process of innovating and its role in promoting growth and prosperity. Exposes students to innovation through team projects as a structured process, while developing skills to handle multiple uncertainties simultaneously. Provides training to address these uncertainties through research methods in the contexts of materials technology development, market applications, industry structure, intellectual property, and other factors. Case studies place the project in a context of historical innovations with worldwide impact. Combination of projects and real-world cases help students identify how they can impact the world through innovation.
E. Fitzgerald, A. Wankerl
No textbook information available

3.087 Materials, Societal Impact, and Social Innovation
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 1.050, 2.001, 10.467, (3.010 and 3.020), or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Students work on exciting, team-based projects at the interdisciplinary frontiers of materials research within a societal and humanistic context. Includes topics such as frontier research and inquiry, social innovation, human-centered design thinking, computational design, and additive manufacturing.
C. Ortiz, E. Spero

3.088 The Social Life of Materials
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with EC.988)
Prereq: 1.050, 2.001, 3.010, 10.467, 20.310, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW12-1.30 (16-275)
______
Students carry out projects on a material of their choice and study its technical, humanistic, and environmental origins and trajectories of development through historical methods; evaluate its current status within a social and humanistic context; and then imagine and evaluate potential futures. Projects supported by topics and scholarship in sociotechnical systems, social innovation, environmental history and justice, equity-based human-centered design, and futures literacy. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. Ortiz, E. Spero, J. Cohen
No textbook information available

3.091 Introduction to Solid-State Chemistry
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Chemistry
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 5.111, 5.112, CC.5111, ES.5111, ES.5112
Lecture: MWF12 (45-230) Recitation: TR10 (13-3101, 13-4101) or TR11 (13-3101, 13-5101) or TR1 (13-3101, 13-5101) +final
______
Basic principles of chemistry and their application to engineering systems. The relationship between electronic structure, chemical bonding, and atomic order. Characterization of atomic arrangements in crystalline and amorphous solids: metals, ceramics, semiconductors, and polymers. Topical coverage of organic chemistry, solution chemistry, acid-base equilibria, electrochemistry, biochemistry, chemical kinetics, diffusion, and phase diagrams. Examples from industrial practice (including the environmental impact of chemical processes), from energy generation and storage (e.g., batteries and fuel cells), and from emerging technologies (e.g., photonic and biomedical devices).
Fall: K. Kolenbrander, S. Cheema
Spring: R. Gomez-Bombarelli, T. Wallin
No textbook information available

3.093 Metalsmithing: Objects and Power
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 1-5-3
______
Introduces traditional metalsmithing techniques to students in a studio environment. Project-based coursework investigates metalsmithing through the convergent lenses of art, science, and spirituality. Focuses on hand-crafted metal objects as historical signifiers of cultural values, power, and protection. Projects may include silver soldering, sawing and piercing, etching, casting, embossing, steel tool making, hollowware, and chasing and repousse. Limited to 9 due to space and equipment constraints.
R. Vedro

3.094[J] Materials in Human Experience
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 1.034[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-3-4
Lecture: MW12 (4-237) Lab: M2-5 (4-006) or W2-5 (4-006) or R2-5 (4-006)
______
Examines how people throughout history have selected, evaluated, processed, and utilized natural materials to create objects of material culture. Explores ideological and aesthetic criteria influential in materials development. As examples of ancient engineering and materials processing, topics may include ancient Roman concrete and prehistoric iron and steel production by the Mossi, Haya, and other African cultures. Particular attention paid to the climate issues surrounding iron and cement, and how the examination of ancient technologies can inform our understanding of sustainability in the present and illuminate paths for the future. Previous topics have included Maya use of lime plaster for frescoes, books, and architectural sculpture; the sound, color, and power of metals in Mesoamerica; and metal, cloth, and fiber technologies in the Inca empire. Laboratory sessions provide practical experience with materials discussed in class. Enrollment limited to 24.
M. Tarkanian, A. Masic, J. Hunter, R. Vedro
No textbook information available

3.095 Introduction to Metalsmithing
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 2-3-4
Lecture: TR10 (4-006) Lab: TR11-12.30 (4-006)
______
Exploration of metal arts, design principles, sculptural concepts, and metallurgical processes. Covers traditional fine metalsmithing techniques including soldering, casting, and forming. Students create artworks that interpret lecture material and utilize metalsmithing as a means of expression. Engages a material culture lens to explore ideas of value, aesthetics, and meaning through object-making. Supplemented by visiting artist lectures and arts sector field trips. Limited to 9.
R. Vedro
No textbook information available

3.096 Architectural Ironwork
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 2-3-4
______
Explores the use of iron in the built environment throughout history and the world, with an emphasis on traditional European and American design and connections to contemporary movements in art and architecture. Discusses influence of technology on design and fabrication, spanning both ancient and modern developments. Cultivates the ability to design iron in architecture and criticize ironwork as art. Includes laboratory exercises that teach a variety of basic and advanced iron-working techniques such as hand forging and CNC machining. The project-based curriculum begins with art criticism of Cambridge-area ironwork, progresses to practical studies of iron architectural elements, and finishes with creation of an architectural object of the student's design. Associated writing assignments for in-lab projects hone criticism and analysis skills. Limited to 6.
J. Hunter

3.098 Ancient Engineering: Ceramic Technologies
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 3.991)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores human interaction with ceramic materials over a considerable span of time, from 25,000 years ago to the 16th century AD. Through the lens of modern materials science combined with evidence from archaeological investigations, examines ancient ceramic materials — from containers to architecture to art — to better understand our close relationship with this important class of material culture. Examines ceramics structure, properties, and processing. Introduces archaeological perspectives and discusses how research into historical changes in ancient ceramic technologies has led to a deeper comprehension of past human behavior and societal development. Concludes by considering how studies of ancient technologies and techniques are leading modern materials scientists to engineer designs of modern ceramic materials, including glasses, concretes, and pigments. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Meanwell, W. Gilstrap

3.14 Modern Physical Metallurgy
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 3.40[J], 22.71[J])
Prereq: 3.013; Coreq: 3.030 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on the links between the processing, structure, and properties of metals and alloys. First, the physical bases for strength, stiffness, and ductility are discussed with reference to crystallography, defects, and microstructure. Second, phase transformations and microstructural evolution are studied in the context of alloy thermodynamics and kinetics. Together, these components comprise the modern paradigm for designing metallic microstructures for optimized properties. Concludes with a focus on processing-microstructure-property relationships in structural engineering alloys. Students taking the graduate version explore the subject in greater depth.
R. Freitas

3.15 Electrical, Optical, and Magnetic Materials and Devices
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 3.033
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (56-154) +final
______
Explores the relationships between the performance of electrical, optical, and magnetic devices and the microstructural and defect characteristics of the materials from which they are constructed. Features a device-motivated approach that places strong emphasis on the design of functional materials for emerging technologies. Applications center around diodes, transistors, memristors, batteries, photodetectors, solar cells (photovoltaics) and solar-to-fuel converters, displays, light emitting diodes, lasers, optical fibers and optical communications, photonic devices, magnetic data storage and spintronics.
K. Kolenbrander
No required or recommended textbooks

3.152 Magnetic Materials
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.45)
Prereq: 3.033
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (4-261)
______
Topics include origin of magnetism in materials, magnetic domains and domain walls, magnetostatics, magnetic anisotropy, antiferro- and ferrimagnetism, magnetism in thin films and nanoparticles, magnetotransport phenomena, and magnetic characterization. Discusses a range of applications, including magnetic recording, spin-valves, and tunnel-junction sensors. Assignments include problem sets and a term paper on a magnetic device or technology. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. A. Ross
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

3.154[J] Materials Performance in Extreme Environments
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 22.054[J])
Prereq: 3.013 and 3.044
Units: 3-2-7
______
Studies the behavior of materials in extreme environments typical of those in which advanced energy systems (including fossil, nuclear, solar, fuel cells, and battery) operate. Takes both a science and engineering approach to understanding how current materials interact with their environment under extreme conditions. Explores the role of modeling and simulation in understanding material behavior and the design of new materials. Focuses on energy and transportation related systems.
Staff

3.155[J] Micro/Nano Processing Technology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.2600[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), Physics II (GIR), or permission of instructor
Units: 3-4-5
Lab hours in 12-3101:. W th f 9am-12pm;. T w th 2pm-5pm;. F 1pm-4pm. Lecture: MW2.30-4 (66-144) Lab: TBA
______
Introduces the theory and technology of micro/nano fabrication. Includes lectures and laboratory sessions on processing techniques: wet and dry etching, chemical and physical deposition, lithography, thermal processes, packaging, and device and materials characterization. Homework uses process simulation tools to build intuition about higher order effects. Emphasizes interrelationships between material properties and processing, device structure, and the electrical, mechanical, optical, chemical or biological behavior of devices. Students fabricate solar cells, and a choice of MEMS cantilevers or microfluidic mixers. Students formulate their own device idea, either based on cantilevers or mixers, then implement and test their designs in the lab. Students engage in extensive written and oral communication exercises. Course provides background for research work related to micro/nano fabrication. Enrollment limited.
J. Del Alamo
No required or recommended textbooks

3.156 Photonic Materials and Devices
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 3.46)
Prereq: 3.033 and (18.03 or 3.016B)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Optical materials design for semiconductors, dielectrics, organic and nanostructured materials. Ray optics, electromagnetic optics and guided wave optics. Physics of light-matter interactions. Device design principles: LEDs, lasers, photodetectors, solar cells, modulators, fiber and waveguide interconnects, optical filters, and photonic crystals. Device processing: crystal growth, substrate engineering, thin film deposition, etching and process integration for dielectric, silicon and compound semiconductor materials. Micro- and nanophotonic systems. Organic, nanostructured and biological optoelectronics. Assignments include three design projects that emphasize materials, devices and systems applications. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Hu

3.157 Organic Electronic Materials and Devices
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 3.023 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers fundamentals of organic semiconductors and electronic devices made thereof. Introduces the emerging needs for soft-matter-based electronics and their applications in medical devices, sensors, and bioelectronics. Topics specific to organic semiconductors include molecular orbitals and band theory, synthesis and processing, energy levels and doping, photophysics, microstructure engineering and characterization, structure-property relationships, and charge transport. Device structures include organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and organic photovoltaics (OPVs).
A. Gumyusenge

3.158[J] Nanoelectronics and Computing Systems
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.2500[J])
Prereq: 6.2000
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR11 (32-124) Recitation: WF1 (36-155) or WF2 (36-155) +final
______
Studies interaction between materials, semiconductor physics, electronic devices, and computing systems. Develops intuition of how transistors operate. Topics range from introductory semiconductor physics to modern state-of-the-art nano-scale devices. Considers how innovations in devices have driven historical progress in computing, and explores ideas for further improvements in devices and computing. Students apply material to understand how building improved computing systems requires knowledge of devices, and how making the correct device requires knowledge of computing systems. Includes a design project for practical application of concepts, and labs for experience building silicon transistors and devices.
A. Akinwande
No textbook information available

3.16 Industrial Challenges in Metallic Materials Selection
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 3.39)
Prereq: (3.010 and 3.020) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Advanced metals and alloy design with emphasis in advanced steels and non-ferrous alloys.  Applies physical metallurgy concepts to solve specific problems targeting sustainable, efficient and safer engineered solutions.  Discusses industrial challenges involving metallic materials selection and manufacturing for different value chains and industrial segments. Includes applications in essential segments of modern life, such as transportation, energy and structural applications.  Recognizing steel as an essential engineering material, subject covers manufacturing and end-uses of advanced steels ranging from microalloyed steels to highly alloyed steels.  Also covers materials for very low temperature applications such as superconducting materials and for higher temperature applications such as superalloys. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

3.17 Principles of Manufacturing
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 3.37)
Prereq: 3.010 and 3.020
Units: 2-1-9
______
Teaches the methodology to achieve Six Sigma materials yield: 99.99966% of end products perform within the required tolerance limits. Six Sigma methodology employs five stages for continuous improvement — problem definition, quantification, root cause analysis, solution implementation, and process control  to help engineers evaluate efficiency and assess complex systems. Through case studies, explores classic examples of materials processing problems and the solutions that achieved Six Sigma manufacturing yield throughout the manufacturing system: extraction, design, unit processes, process flow, in-line control, test, performance/qualification, reliability, environmental impact, product life cycle, cost, and workforce. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
L. C. Kimerling

3.171 Structural Materials and Manufacturing
______

Undergrad (Fall, Summer)
Prereq: (3.010 and 3.020) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 2.821, 3.371
______
Examines theoretical and practical aspects of structural materials by discussing mechanical properties of materials and manufacturing processes used to convert raw materials into high performance and reliable components for particular applications. Discusses specific types of steel, aluminum, titanium, ceramics, cement, polymers, and composites in context of commercially available product designations and specifications. Examines manufacturing processes used for exemplar products of each type of material, including heat treatments, sintering, and injection molding, among others. Considers established methods of metallurgical failure analysis and fractography through product failure case studies in order to prepare students to determine root causes of component failures in the real world. Students taking graduate version submit additional work. Meets with 3.371 when offered concurrently.
Fall: D. Baskin
Summer: D. Baskin

3.172 Lightweighting and Structural Optimization
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.372)
Prereq: (3.010 and 3.020) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TWF9 (8-119) +final
______
Presents modern processes, technologies, and methods used to develop lighter vehicular structures critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering costs. Explores how materials design, solid mechanics, mechanical engineering, manufacturing technologies, joining technologies, and numerical optimization are all brought to task to effect real-world lightweighting of both primary and secondary vehicle structures. Additionally, since important lessons are in past designs, the evolution of lightweight design in aerospace, automotive, and bicycles are presented and defining aspects from milestone designs are critically assessed. Students taking graduate version submit additional work.
D. Baskin
No textbook information available

3.173 Computing Fabrics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.373)
Prereq: 3.013 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-4-6
Lecture: T3-5 (4-153)
______
Highlights connections between industrialization, products, and advances in fibers and fabrics. Discusses the evolution of technologies in their path from basic scientific research to scaled production and global markets, with the ultimate objective of identifying and investigating the degrees of freedom that make fabrics such a powerful form of synthetic engineering and product expression. Topics explored, in part through interactions with industry speakers, include: fiber, yarn, textiles and fabric materials, structure-property relations, and practical demonstrations to anticipate future textile products. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20.
Y. Fink
No textbook information available

3.18 Materials Science and Engineering of Clean Energy
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.70)
Prereq: 3.030 and 3.033
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1.30-3 (4-261)
______
Develops the materials principles, limitations, and challenges of clean energy technologies, including solar, energy storage, thermoelectrics, fuel cells, and novel fuels. Draws correlations between the limitations and challenges related to key figures of merit and the basic underlying thermodynamic, structural, transport, and physical principles, as well as to the means for fabricating devices exhibiting optimum operating efficiencies and extended life at reasonable cost. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
H. Tuller, I. Abate, Y. Chiang
No textbook information available

3.19 Sustainable Chemical Metallurgy
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.50)
Prereq: 3.030
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (4-265)
______
Covers principles of metal extraction processes. Provides a direct application of the fundamentals of thermodynamics and kinetics to the industrial production of metals from their ores, e.g., iron, aluminum, or reactive metals and silicon. Discusses the corresponding economics and global challenges. Addresses advanced techniques for sustainable metal extraction, particularly with respect to greenhouse gas emissions. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Allanore
No textbook information available

3.20 Materials at Equilibrium
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: (3.010, 3.013, 3.020, 3.023, 3.030, 3.033, and 3.042) or permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-10
______
Laws of thermodynamics: general formulation and applications to mechanical, electromagnetic and electrochemical systems, solutions, and phase diagrams. Computation of phase diagrams. Statistical thermodynamics and relation between microscopic and macroscopic properties, including ensembles, gases, crystal lattices, phase transitions. Applications to phase stability and properties of mixtures. Representations of chemical equilibria. Interfaces.
A. Allanore, I. Abate

3.201 Introduction to DMSE
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Introduces new DMSE graduate students to DMSE research groups and the departmental spaces available for research. Guides students in joining a research group. Registration limited to students enrolled in DMSE graduate programs.
F. Ross

3.202 Essential Research Skills
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
Lecture: M3-5 (E25-117)
______
Provides instruction in the planning, writing, literature review, presentation, and communication of advanced graduate research work. Registration limited to students enrolled in DMSE graduate programs.
C. Tasan
No textbook information available

3.207 Innovation and Commercialization
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.086)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW3.30-5 (4-237)
______
Explores in depth projects on a particular materials-based technology. Investigates the science and technology of materials advances and their strategic value, explore potential applications for fundamental advances, and determine intellectual property related to the materials technology and applications. Students map progress with presentations, and are expected to create an end-of-term document enveloping technology, intellectual property, applications, and potential commercialization. Lectures cover aspects of technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, intellectual property, and commercialization of fundamental technologies.
E. Fitzgerald, A. Wankerl
No textbook information available

3.21 Kinetic Processes in Materials
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 3.030, 3.044, (3.010 and 3.020), or permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-10
Lecture: TR9.30-11,F9 (4-231) Recitation: F11 (4-145) or F12 (4-145)
______
Unified treatment of phenomenological and atomistic kinetic processes in materials. Provides the foundation for the advanced understanding of processing, microstructural evolution, and behavior for a broad spectrum of materials. Topics include irreversible thermodynamics; rate and transition state theory, diffusion; nucleation and phase transitions; continuous phase transitions; grain growth and coarsening; capillarity driven morphological evolution; and interface stability during phase transitions.
M. Cima
No textbook information available

3.22 Structure and Mechanics of Materials
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 3.013 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Explores structural characteristics of materials focusing on bonding types, crystalline and non-crystalline states, molecular and polymeric materials, and nano-structured materials. Discusses how the macroscale mechanical response of materials, and micro-mechanisms of elasticity, plasticity, and fracture, originate from these structural characteristics. Case studies and examples are drawn from a variety of material classes: metals, ceramics, polymers, thin films, composites, and cellular materials.
F. Ross, M. Dao

3.23 Electrical, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 8.03 and 18.03
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (4-231) Recitation: R1 (13-4101) or R2 (13-4101) +final
______
Origin of electrical, magnetic and optical properties of materials. Focus on the acquisition of quantum mechanical tools. Analysis of the properties of materials. Presentation of the postulates of quantum mechanics. Examination of the hydrogen atom, simple molecules and bonds, and the behavior of electrons in solids and energy bands. Introduction of the variation principle as a method for the calculation of wavefunctions. Investigation of how and why materials respond to different electrical, magnetic and electromagnetic fields and probes. Study of the conductivity, dielectric function, and magnetic permeability in metals, semiconductors, and insulators. Survey of common devices such as transistors, magnetic storage media, optical fibers.
G. Beach
No textbook information available

3.30[J] Properties of Solid Surfaces
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 22.75[J])
Prereq: 3.20, 3.21, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (24-112) +final
______
Covers fundamental principles needed to understand and measure the microscopic properties of the surfaces of solids, with connections to structure, electronic, chemical, magnetic and mechanical properties. Reviews the theoretical aspects of surface behavior, including stability of surfaces, restructuring, and reconstruction. Examines the interaction of the surfaces with the environment, including absorption of atoms and molecules, chemical reactions and material growth, and interaction of surfaces with other point defects within the solids (space charges in semiconductors). Discusses principles of important tools for the characterization of surfaces, such as surface electron and x-ray diffraction, electron spectroscopies (Auger and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), scanning tunneling, and force microscopy.
B. Yildiz
No required or recommended textbooks

3.31[J] Radiation Damage and Effects in Nuclear Materials
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 22.74[J])
(Subject meets with 22.074)
Prereq: 3.21, 22.14, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies the origins and effects of radiation damage in structural materials for nuclear applications. Radiation damage topics include formation of point defects, defect diffusion, defect reaction kinetics and accumulation, and differences in defect microstructures due to the type of radiation (ion, proton, neutron). Radiation effects topics include detrimental changes to mechanical properties, phase stability, corrosion properties, and differences in fission and fusion systems. Term project required. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

3.320 Atomistic Computer Modeling of Materials
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 3.030, 3.20, 3.23, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Theory and application of atomistic computer simulations to model, understand, and predict the properties of real materials. Energy models: from classical potentials to first-principles approaches. Density-functional theory and the total-energy pseudopotential method. Errors and accuracy of quantitative predictions. Thermodynamic ensembles: Monte Carlo sampling and molecular dynamics simulations. Free energies and phase transitions. Fluctations and transport properties. Coarse-graining approaches and mesoscale models.
R. Gomez-Bombarelli

3.321 Computational Materials Design
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.041)
Prereq: 3.20
Units: 3-2-7
Lecture: MWF11 (1-134) Lab: R10-12 (1-242)
______
Systems approach to analysis and control of multilevel materials microstructures employing genomic fundamental databases. Applies quantitative process-structure-property-performance relations in computational parametric design of materials composition under processability constraints to achieve predicted microstructures meeting multiple property objectives established by industry performance requirements. Covers integration of macroscopic process models with microstructural simulation to accelerate materials qualification through component-level process optimization and forecasting of manufacturing variation to efficiently define minimum property design allowables. Case studies of interdisciplinary multiphysics collaborative modeling with applications across materials classes. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. 
G. Olson
No textbook information available

3.33[J] Defects in Materials
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 22.73[J])
Prereq: 3.21 and 3.22
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines point, line, and planar defects in structural and functional materials. Relates their properties to transport, radiation response, phase transformations, semiconductor device performance and quantum information processing. Focuses on atomic and electronic structures of defects in crystals, with special attention to optical properties, dislocation dynamics, fracture, and charged defects population and diffusion. Examples also drawn from other systems, e.g., disclinations in liquid crystals, domain walls in ferromagnets, shear bands in metallic glass, etc.
J. Li

3.34 Imaging of Materials
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.074)
Prereq: 3.033, 3.23, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR10-11.30 (34-302)
______
Principles and applications of (scanning) transmission electron microscopy. Topics include electron optics and aberration correction theory; modeling and simulating the interactions of electrons with the specimen; electron diffraction; image formation in transmission and scanning transmission electron microscopy; diffraction and phase contrast; imaging of crystals and crystal imperfections; review of the most recent advances in electron microscopy for bio- and nanosciences; analysis of chemical composition and electronic structure at the atomic scale. Lectures complemented by real-case studies and computer simulations/data analysis. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. LeBeau
No textbook information available

3.35 Fracture and Fatigue
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 3.22 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3-4.30 (36-144)
______
Advanced study of material failure in response to mechanical stresses. Damage mechanisms include microstructural changes, crack initiation, and crack propagation under monotonic and cyclic loads. Covers a wide range of materials: metals, ceramics, polymers, thin films, biological materials, composites. Describes toughening mechanisms and the effect of material microstructures. Includes stress-life, strain-life, and damage-tolerant approaches. Emphasizes fracture mechanics concepts and latest applications for structural materials, biomaterials, microelectronic components as well as nanostructured materials. Limited to 10.
M. Dao
No textbook information available

3.36 Cellular Solids: Structure, Properties, Applications
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 3.054)
Prereq: 3.013 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Discusses processing and structure of cellular solids as they are created from polymers, metals, ceramics, glasses, and composites; derivation of models for the mechanical properties of honeycombs and foams; and how unique properties of honeycombs and foams are exploited in applications such as lightweight structural panels, energy absorption devices, and thermal insulation. Covers applications of cellular solids in medicine, such as increased fracture risk due to trabecular bone loss in patients with osteoporosis, the development of metal foam coatings for orthopedic implants, and designing porous scaffolds for tissue engineering that mimic the extracellular matrix. Includes modelling of cellular materials applied to natural materials and biomimicking. Offers a combination of online and in-person instruction. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

3.37 Principles of Manufacturing
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 3.17)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-1-9
______
Teaches the methodology to achieve Six Sigma materials yield: 99.99966% of end products perform within the required tolerance limits. Six Sigma methodology employs five stages for continuous improvement — problem definition, quantification, root cause analysis, solution implementation, and process control  to help engineers evaluate efficiency and assess complex systems. Through case studies, explores classic examples of materials processing problems and the solutions that achieved Six Sigma manufacturing yield throughout the manufacturing system: extraction, design, unit processes, process flow, in-line control, test, performance/qualification, reliability, environmental impact, product life cycle, cost, and workforce. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
L. C. Kimerling

3.371[J] Structural Materials
______

Graduate (Fall, Summer)
(Same subject as 2.821[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 3.171
______
Examines theoretical and practical aspects of structural materials by discussing mechanical properties of materials and manufacturing processes used to convert raw materials into high performance and reliable components for particular applications. Discusses specific types of steel, aluminum, titanium, ceramics, cement, polymer,s and composites in context of commercially available product designations and specifications. Examines manufacturing processes used for exemplar products of each type of material, such as heat treatments, sintering, and injection molding, among others. Considers established methods of metallurgical failure analysis and fractography through product failure case studies in order to prepare students to determine root causes of component failures in the real world. Students taking graduate version submit additional work. Meets with 3.171 when offered concurrently.
Fall: D. Baskin
Summer: D. Baskin

3.372 Lightweighting and Structural Optimization
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.172)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TWF9 (8-119) +final
______
Presents modern processes, technologies, and methods used to develop lighter vehicular structures critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering costs. Explores how materials design, solid mechanics, mechanical engineering, manufacturing technologies, joining technologies, and numerical optimization are all brought to task to effect real-world lightweighting of both primary and secondary vehicle structures. Additionally, since important lessons are in past designs, the evolution of lightweight design in aerospace, automotive, and bicycles are presented and defining aspects from milestone designs are critically assessed. Students taking graduate version submit additional work.
D. Baskin
No textbook information available

3.373 Computing Fabrics
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.173)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-4-6
Lecture: T3-5 (4-153)
______
Highlights connections between industrialization, products, and advances in fibers and fabrics. Discusses the evolution of technologies in their path from basic scientific research to scaled production and global markets, with the ultimate objective of identifying and investigating the degrees of freedom that make fabrics such a powerful form of synthetic engineering and product expression. Topics explored, in part through interactions with industry speakers, include: fiber, yarn, textiles and fabric materials, structure-property relations, and practical demonstrations to anticipate future textile products. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20.
Y. Fink
No textbook information available

3.39 Industrial Challenges in Metallic Materials Selection
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 3.16)
Prereq: 3.20 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Advanced metals and alloy design with emphasis in advanced steels and non-ferrous alloys.  Applies physical metallurgy concepts to solve specific problems aiming at sustainable, efficient and safer engineered solutions.  Discusses industrial challenges involving metallic materials selection and manufacturing for different value chains and industrial segments. Includes applications in essential segments of modern life such as transportation, energy and strutuctural applications.  Recognizing steel as an essential engineering material, the course will cover manufacturing and end-uses of advanced steels ranging from microalloyed steels to highly alloyed steels.  Materials for very low temperature applications such as superconducting materials and for higher temperature applications such as superalloys will also be covered. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
staff

3.40[J] Modern Physical Metallurgy
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 22.71[J])
(Subject meets with 3.14)
Prereq: (3.20 and 3.22) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on the links between the processing, structure, and properties of metals and alloys. First, the physical bases for strength, stiffness, and ductility are discussed with reference to crystallography, defects, and microstructure. Second, phase transformations and microstructural evolution are studied in the context of alloy thermodynamics and kinetics. Together, these components comprise the modern paradigm for designing metallic microstructures for optimized properties. Concludes with a focus on processing-microstructure-property relationships in structural engineering alloys. Students taking the graduate version explore the subject in greater depth.
R. Freitas

3.41 Colloids, Surfaces, Absorption, Capillarity, and Wetting Phenomena
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 3.20 and 3.21
Units: 3-0-9
______
Integrates elements of physics and chemistry toward the study of material surfaces. Begins with classical colloid phenomena and the interaction between surfaces in different media. Discusses the mechanisms of surface charge generation as well as how dispersion forces are created and controlled. Continues with exploration of chemical absorption processes and surface design of inorganic and organic materials. Includes examples in which such surface design can be used to control critical properties of materials in applications. Addresses lastly how liquids interact with solids as viewed by capillarity and wetting phenomena. Studies how materials are used in processes and applications that are intended to control liquids, and how the surface chemistry and structure of those materials makes such applications possible.
M. Cima

3.42 Electronic Materials Design
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 3.23
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (56-162)
______
Extensive and intensive examination of structure-processing-property correlations for a wide range of materials including metals, semiconductors, dielectrics, and optical materials. Topics covered include defect equilibria; junction characteristics; photodiodes, light sources and displays; bipolar and field effect transistors; chemical, thermal and mechanical transducers; data storage. Emphasis on materials design in relation to device performance.
J. Casamento
No textbook information available

3.43[J] Integrated Microelectronic Devices
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.6500[J])
Prereq: 3.42 or 6.2500
Units: 4-0-8
______
Covers physics of microelectronic semiconductor devices for integrated circuit applications. Topics include semiconductor fundamentals, p-n junction, metal-oxide semiconductor structure, metal-semiconductor junction, MOS field-effect transistor, and bipolar junction transistor.  Emphasizes physical understanding of device operation through energy band diagrams and short-channel MOSFET device design and modern device scaling. Familiarity with MATLAB recommended.
J. Del Alamo

3.44 Materials Processing for Micro- and Nano-Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 3.20 and 3.21
Units: 3-0-9
______
Processing of bulk, thin film, and nanoscale materials for applications in electronic, magnetic, electromechanical, and photonic devices and microsystems. Topics include growth of bulk, thin-film, nanoscale single crystals via vapor and liquid phase processes; formation, patterning and processing of thin films, with an emphasis on relationships among processing, structure, and properties; and processing of systems of nanoscale materials. Examples from materials processing for applications in high-performance integrated electronic circuits, micro-/nano-electromechanical devices and systems and integrated sensors.
C. Thompson

3.45 Magnetic Materials
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.152)
Prereq: 3.23
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (4-261)
______
Topics include origin of magnetism in materials, magnetic domains and domain walls, magnetostatics, anisotropy, antiferro- and ferrimagnetism, magnetization dynamics, spintronics, magnetism in thin films and nanoparticles, magnetotransport phenomena, and magnetic characterization. Discusses a range of applications, including magnetic recording, spintronic memory, magnetoopical devices, and multiferroics. Assignments include problem sets and a term paper on a magnetic device or technology. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. Ross
No textbook information available

3.46 Photonic Materials and Devices
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 3.156)
Prereq: 3.23
Units: 3-0-9
______
Optical materials design for semiconductors, dielectrics and polymers. Ray optics, electromagnetic optics and guided wave optics. Physics of light-matter interactions. Device design principles: LEDs, lasers, photodetectors, modulators, fiber and waveguide interconnects, optical filters, and photonic crystals. Device processing: crystal growth, substrate engineering, thin film deposition, etching and process integration for dielectric, silicon and compound semiconductor materials. Microphotonic integrated circuits. Telecom/datacom systems. Assignments include three design projects that emphasize materials, devices and systems applications. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Hu

3.48 Measurement Science for Materials Research
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Covers essentials of measurement science, including instrumentation, instrument-computer interfacing, experimental design, calibration and systematic errors, measurement statistics, data representation, and elements of data analysis, including model selection and statistical analysis. Structured around a series of case studies chosen by the class. Options include: electrical and Hall conductivity measurements, semiconductor junction measurements, spectroscopy (including photoluminescence, Raman, and photoelectron), magnetometry, elemental composition analysis and depth profiling, atomic force microscopy, nanoindentation, dynamical correlations and related measurements, and measuring pressure (from ultra-high vacuum to megabar). Familiarity with coding and data analysis required. Specific measurement challenges in the students' own research discussed.
R. Jaramillo


left arrow | 3.00-3.499 | 3.50-3.999 plus UROP, UPOP, and Thesis | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 4: Architecture
IAP/Spring 2025


Architecture Design

4.021 Design Studio: How to Design
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
Credit cannot also be received for 4.02A
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
Design: MW2-5 (7-434) +final
______
Introduces fundamental design principles as a way to demystify design and provide a basic introduction to all aspects of the process. Stimulates creativity, abstract thinking, representation, iteration, and design development. Equips students with skills to have more effective communication with designers, and develops their ability to apply the foundations of design to any discipline. Limited to 25; preference to Course 4 and 4B majors and Design and Architecture minors, and first- and second-year students.
Fall: S. Tibbits
Spring: P. Pettigrew
No required or recommended textbooks

4.022 Introduction to Architectural Design Techniques
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 4.02A or 4.021
Units: 3-3-6
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
Design: MW2-5 (7-434)
______
Introduces the tools, techniques, and technologies of design across a range of projects in a studio environment. Explores concepts related to form, function, materials, tools, and physical environments through project-based exercises. Develops familiarity with design process, critical observation, and the translation of design concepts into digital and physical reality. Utilizing traditional and contemporary techniques and tools, faculty across various design disciplines expose students to a unique cross-section of inquiry. Limited to 25; preference to Course 4 majors, Architecture minors, and first- and second-year students.
C. Norman
No required or recommended textbooks

4.023 Architecture Design Studio I
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 4.022
Units: 0-12-12
______
Provides instruction in architectural design and project development within design constraints including architectural program and site. Students engage the design process through various 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional media. Working directly with representational and model making techniques, students gain experience in the conceptual, formal, spatial and material aspects of architecture. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Preference to Course 4 majors and minors.
C. Parreno Alonso

4.024 Architecture Design Studio II
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 4.023, 4.401, and 4.500
Units: 0-12-12
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
Design: TRF1-5 (7-434) +final
______
Provides instruction in architectural design and project development with an emphasis on social, cultural, or civic programs. Builds on foundational design skills with more complex constraints and contexts. Integrates aspects of architectural theory, building technology, and computation into the design process. Preference to Course 4 majors.
J. Kolb
No required or recommended textbooks

4.02A Design Studio: How to Design Intensive
______

Undergrad (IAP) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 2-5-2
Credit cannot also be received for 4.021
URL: IAP URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
______
Introduces fundamental design principles as a way to demystify design and provide a basic introduction to all aspects of the process. Stimulates creativity, abstract thinking, representation, iteration, and design development. Equips students with skills to have more effective communication with designers, and develops their ability to apply the foundations of design to any discipline. Limited to 30; preference to Course 4 and 4B majors and Design and Architecture minors, and first- and second-year students.
A. Giorgis
No textbook information available

4.031 Design Studio: Objects and Interaction
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Overview of design as the giving of form, order, and interactivity to the objects that define our daily life. Follows the path from project to interactive product. Covers the overall design process, preparing students for work in a hands-on studio learning environment. Emphasizes design development and constraints. Topics include the analysis of objects; interaction design and user experience; design methodologies, current dialogues in design; economies of scale vs. means; and the role of technology in design. Provides a foundation in prototyping skills such as carpentry, casting, digital fabrication, electronics, and coding. Limited to 15; preference to Course 4-B majors and Design Minors.
M. Coelho

4.032 Design Studio: Information Design and Visualization
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 4.033)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
Lecture: WF9.30-11 (N52-337)
______
Provides an introduction to working with information, data and visualization in a hands-on studio learning environment. Studies the history and theory of information, followed by a series of projects in which students apply the ideas directly. Progresses though basic data analysis, visual design and presentation, and more sophisticated interaction techniques. Topics include storytelling and narrative, choosing representations, understanding audiences, and the role of designers working with data. Graduate students are expected to complete additional assignments. Preference to 4-B majors and Design minors.
B. Fry
No required or recommended textbooks

4.033 Design Studio: Information Design and Visualization
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 4.032)
Prereq: None
Units arranged
Lecture: WF9.30-11 (N52-337)
______
Provides an introduction to working with information, data and visualization in a hands-on studio learning environment. Studies the history and theory of information, followed by a series of projects in which students apply the ideas directly. Progresses though basic data analysis, visual design and presentation, and more sophisticated interaction techniques. Topics include storytelling and narrative, choosing representations, understanding audiences, and the role of designers working with data. Graduate students are expected to complete additional assignments.
Consult B. Fry
No required or recommended textbooks

4.041 Design Studio: Advanced Product Design
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 4.031 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
Design: TR2-5 (N52-342C)
______
Focuses on producing a small series of manufactured products. Students develop products that address specific user needs, propose novel design concepts, iteratively prototype, test functionality, and ultimately exhibit their work in a retail context. Stemming from new research and technological developments around MIT, students try to imagine the future products that emerge from new materials and machine intelligence. Provides an in-depth exploration of the design and manufacturing of products, through narrative, form, function, fabrication, and their relationship to customers. Enrollment imited to 15; preference to Course 4B majors and Design Minors.
X. Aguirre
No required or recommended textbooks

4.043 Design Studio: Interaction Intelligence
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 4.044)
Prereq: 4.031 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
Recitation: W3-5 (N52-342C) Design: F2-5 (N52-342C) +final
______
Overview of core principles and techniques for the design of interaction, behavior, and intelligence across objects and spaces. In a studio environment, students develop low and high-fidelity interactive prototypes that can be deployed and experienced by real users. Lectures cover the history and principles of human-computer interaction, behavior prototyping, physical and graphical user interfaces, machine intelligence, neural networks, and large language models. Provides a foundation in technical skills, such as physical prototyping, coding, and electronics, as well as how to collect data, train, and deploy their own neural network models. Students complete a series of small interaction exercises and a portfolio-level final project. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.  Limited to 16; preference to 4B majors and Design minors.
M. Coelho
No required or recommended textbooks

4.044 Design Studio: Interaction Intelligence
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 4.043)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
Recitation: W3-5 (N52-342C) Design: F2-5 (N52-342C) +final
______
Overview of core principles and techniques for the design of interaction, behavior, and intelligence across objects and spaces. In a studio environment, students develop low and high-fidelity interactive prototypes that can be deployed and experienced by real users. Lectures cover the history and principles of human-computer interaction, behavior prototyping, physical and graphical user interfaces, machine intelligence, neural networks, and large language models. Provides a foundation in technical skills, such as physical prototyping, coding, and electronics, as well as how to collect data, train, and deploy their own neural network models. Students complete a series of small interaction exercises and a portfolio-level final project. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 16; preference to 4B majors and Design minors.
Consult M. Coelho
No required or recommended textbooks

4.051 The Human Factor in Innovation and Design Strategy
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-2-8
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
______
Focuses on understanding the emerging field of human-centered design and its approach to real-world design challenges. Through group working sessions, design reviews, and presentations by leading design practitioners, thinkers, and business leaders, the class explores core methodologies on how design brings value to human experiences and to the contemporary marketplace. Limited to 20; preference to 4B majors and Design minors.
Consult S. Tibbits

4.053 Visual Communication Fundamentals
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Provides an introduction to visual communication, emphasizing the development of a visual and verbal vocabulary. Presents the fundamentals of line, shape, color, composition, visual hierarchy, word/image relationships and typography as building blocks for communicating with clarity, emotion, and meaning. Students develop their ability to analyze, discuss and critique their work and the work of the designed world.  Limited to 18; preference to Course 4-B majors and Design minors.
B. Keum

4.090 Practical Experience in Architecture for Undergraduates
______

Undergrad (IAP, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
URL: IAP URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
______
Practical experience through summer and January IAP internships secured by the student in the field of architecture, urbanism, digital design, art, or building technology. Before registering for this subject, students must have an offer from a company or organization and complete the Department of Architecture application signed by the advisor. Upon completion of the internship, students must submit an evaluation form available from the departmental academic office. Students are limited to a total of three approved experiences. Restricted to Course 4 undergraduate students.
IAP: Consult P. Pettigrew
Summer: Consult P. Pettigrew
No textbook information available

4.091 Independent Study in Design
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Supplementary work on individual or group basis. Registration subject to prior arrangement for subject matter and supervision by staff.
Fall: T. Haynes
IAP: T. Haynes
Spring: T. Haynes
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

4.092 Independent Study in Design
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Supplementary work on individual or group basis. Registration subject to prior arrangement for subject matter and supervision by staff.
Fall: T. Haynes
IAP: T. Haynes
Spring: T. Haynes
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

4.093 Independent Study in Design
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Supplementary work on individual or group basis. Registration subject to prior arrangement for subject matter and supervision by staff.
Fall: T. Haynes
IAP: T. Haynes
Spring: T. Haynes
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

4.094 Independent Study in Design
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Supplementary work on individual or group basis. Registration subject to prior arrangement for subject matter and supervision by staff.
Fall: T. Haynes
IAP: T. Haynes
Spring: T. Haynes
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

4.105 Cultures of Form
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-2-5
______
Introduction to cultures of form in architectural design, representation, and production, including material cultures, geometric discourse and analysis, Western and non-Western modes of perception and representation. Through a series of acts of forming and making, provides a primer and venue to rehearse skills such as 3D modeling and the reciprocity between representation and materialization. Exercises accompanied by lectures from practitioners, who each represent a highly articulated relationship between form and material in a body of design research or built work. Restricted to first-year MArch students.
J. Jih

4.109 Materials and Fabrication for Architecture
______

Graduate (IAP)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-3-6 [P/D/F]
URL: IAP URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
______
Provides the material system knowledge and fabrication process skills to successfully engage with all areas of the shop, from precision handwork to multi-axis computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining. Progresses through a series of basic exercises that introduce the material and workflow, concluding with more complex problems that explore opportunities and issues specific to architecture. Limited to 12; preference to first-year MArch students.
J. O'Brien
No textbook information available

4.110 Design Across Scales and Disciplines
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 2-2-8
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
Lecture: T10-12 (N52-337) Lab: W EVE (7-9 PM) (N52-337) +final
______
Inspired by Charles and Ray Eames' canonical Powers of Ten, explores the relationship between science and engineering through the lens of design. Examines how transformations in science and technology have influenced design thinking and vice versa. Provides interdisciplinary skills and methods to represent, model, design and fabricate objects, machines, and systems using new computational and fabrication tools. Aims to develop methodologies for design research of interdisciplinary problems. Enrollment limited; preference to Course 4-B majors and Course 4 minors.
N. De Monchaux
No required or recommended textbooks

4.117 Creative Computation
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 4.118)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
Lecture: W2-5 (3-442) +final
______
Dedicated to bridging the gap between the virtual and physical world, the subject embraces modes of computation that hold resonance with materials and methods that beg to be computed. Students engage in bi-weekly exercises to solve complex design problems. Each exercise is dedicated to a different computation approach (recursion, parametric, genetic algorithms, particle-spring systems, etc.) that is married to a physical challenge, thereby learning the advantages and disadvantages to each approach while verifying the results in physical and digitally fabricated prototypes. Through the tools of computation and fabrication, it empowers students to design as architects, engineers and craftspeople. Additional work required of student taking for graduate credit. Enrollment limited; preference to MArch students.
Consult B. Clifford
No required or recommended textbooks

4.118 Creative Computation
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 4.117)
Prereq: 4.500 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
Lecture: W2-5 (3-442) +final
______
Dedicated to bridging the gap between the virtual and physical world, the subject embraces modes of computation that hold resonance with materials and methods that beg to be computed. Students engage in bi-weekly exercises to solve complex design problems. Each exercise is dedicated to a different computation approach (recursion, parametric, genetic algorithms, particle-spring systems, etc.) that is married to a physical challenge, thereby learning the advantages and disadvantages to each approach while verifying the results in physical and digitally fabricated prototypes. Through the tools of computation and fabrication, it empowers students to design as architects, engineers and craftspeople. Additional work required of student taking for graduate credit. Enrollment limited; preference to 4-B majors and Design minors.
Consult B. Clifford
No required or recommended textbooks

4.120 Furniture Making Workshop
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-2-5
Lecture: WF9.30-11 (N51-160)
______
Provides instruction in designing and building a functional piece of furniture from an original design. Develops woodworking techniques from use of traditional hand tools to digital fabrication. Gives students the opportunity to practice design without using a building program or code. Surveys the history of furniture making. Additional work required of students taking for graduate credit. Limited to 12; preference to graduate Course 4 students.
C. Dewart
No required or recommended textbooks

4.123 Architectural Assemblies
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-2-5
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
Design: F9-12 (3-133)
______
Fosters a holistic understanding of the architectural-building cycle, enabling students to build upon the history of design and construction to make informed decisions towards developing innovative building systems. Includes an overview of materials, processing methods, and their formation into building systems across cultures. Looks at developing innovative architectural systems focusing on the building envelope. Seeks to adapt processes from the aerospace and automotive industries to investigate buildings as prefabricated design and engineering assemblies. Synthesizes knowledge in building design and construction systems, environmental and structural design, and geometric and computational approaches.
M. Goulthorpe
No required or recommended textbooks

4.125 Furniture Making Workshop
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-2-5
______
Provides instruction in designing and building a functional piece of furniture from an original design. Develops woodworking techniques from use of traditional hand tools to digital fabrication. Gives students the opportunity to practice design without using a building program or code. Surveys the history of furniture making and includes site visits to local collections and artists/craftsmen. Additional work required of students taking for graduate credit. Limited to 12; preference to undergraduate Course 4 and 4B majors and Design and Architecture minors.
Staff

4.130 Architectural Design Theory and Methodologies
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Studies design as an interrogative technique to examine material sciences, media arts and technology, cultural studies, computation and emerging fabrication protocols. Provides in-depth, theoretical grounding to the notion of 'design' in architecture, and to the consideration of contemporary design methodologies, while encouraging speculation on emerging design thinking. Topical focus varies with instructor. May be repeated for credit with permission of department.
X. Aguirre

4.140[J] How to Make (Almost) Anything
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.9020[J], MAS.863[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-9-6
______
Provides a practical hands-on introduction to digital fabrication, including CAD/CAM/CAE, NC machining, 3-D printing and scanning, molding and casting, composites, laser and waterjet cutting, PCB design and fabrication; sensors and actuators; mixed-signal instrumentation, embedded processing, and wired and wireless communications. Develops an understanding of these capabilities through projects using them individually and jointly to create functional systems.
N. Gershenfeld

4.151 Architecture Design Core Studio I
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-12-9 [P/D/F]
______
Explores the foundations of design through a series of bracketed methods of production. These methods exercise topics such as form, space, organization, structure, circulation, use, tectonics, temporality, and experience. Students develop methods of representation that span from manual to virtual and from canonical to experimental. Each method is evaluated for what it offers and privileges, supplying a survey of approaches for design exercises to follow. First in a sequence of design subjects, which must be taken in order. Limited to first-year MArch students.
Consult W. O'Brien

4.152 Architecture Design Core Studio II
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 4.151
Units: 0-12-9
Design: TRF1-5 (7-434)
______
Builds on Core I skills and expands the constraints of the architectural problem to include issues of urban site logistics, cultural and programmatic material (inhabitation and human factors), and long span structures. Two related projects introduce a range of disciplinary issues, such as working with precedents, site, sectional and spatial proposition of the building, and the performance of the outer envelope. Emphasizes the clarity of intentions and the development of appropriate architectural and representational solutions. Limited to first-year MArch students.
Consult W. O'Brien
No required or recommended textbooks

4.153 Architecture Design Core Studio III
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 4.152
Units: 0-12-9
______
Interdisciplinary approach to design through studio design problems that engage the domains of building technology, computation, and the cultural/historical geographies of energy. Uses different modalities of thought to examine architectural agendas for 'sustainability'; students position their work with respect to a broader understanding of the environment and its relationship to society and technology. Students develop a project with a comprehensive approach to programmatic organization, energy load considerations, building material assemblies, exterior envelope and structure systems. Limited to second-year MArch students.
Consult W. O'Brien

4.154 Architecture Design Option Studio
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 4.153
Units: 0-10-11
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
Design: TRF1-5 (3-415) or TRF1-5 (3-415) or TRF1-5 (3-415) or TRF1-5 (3-415) or TRF1-5 (3-415) +final
______
Offers a broad range of advanced-level investigations in architectural design in various contexts, including international sites. Integrates theoretical and technological discourses into specific topics. Studio problems may include urbanism and city scale strategies, habitation and urban housing systems, architecture in landscapes, material investigations and new production technologies, programmatic and spatial complex building typologies, and research centered studies. Mandatory lottery process.
Fall: Consult W. O'Brien
Spring: W. O'Brien
No required or recommended textbooks

4.163[J] Urban Design Studio
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 11.332[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
The design of urban environments. Strategies for change in large areas of cities, to be developed over time, involving different actors. Fitting forms into natural, man-made, historical, and cultural contexts; enabling desirable activity patterns; conceptualizing built form; providing infrastructure and service systems; guiding the sensory character of development. Involves architecture and planning students in joint work; requires individual designs or design and planning guidelines.
Staff

4.173[J] China Urban Design Studio
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 11.307[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-21-0
______
Design studio that includes architects, urban designers, and city planners working in teams on a contemporary development project of importance in China, particularly in transitional, deindustrializing cities. Students analyze conditions, explore alternatives, and synthesize architecture, city design, and implementation plans. Lectures and brief study tours expose students to history and contemporary issues of urbanism in China. Offered every other spring at MIT in parallel with urban design studio at Tsinghua University, Beijing, involving students and faculty from both schools. Field visit to China will occur in January prior to studio. Limited to 10.
Staff

4.180 Design Workshop
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Subject in design inquiry taught in studio format treating selected issues of the built world in depth. The problem may be prototypical or a particular aspect of a whole project, but always interdisciplinary in nature.
Staff

4.181 Architectural Design Workshop
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
Lecture: W9.30-12.30 (5-232)
______
Addresses design inquiry in a studio format. In-depth consideration of selected issues of the built world. The problem may be prototypical or a particular aspect of a whole project, but is always interdisciplinary in nature.
Fall: B. Clifford
IAP: M. Aljomairi, L. Alkhayat, K. Lee, C. Mueller, S. Kennedy
Spring: J. Kolb
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

4.182 Architectural Design Workshop
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
Lecture: T10-1 (5-231)
______
Addresses design inquiry in a studio format. In-depth consideration of selected issues of the built world. The problem may be prototypical or a particular aspect of a whole project, but is always interdisciplinary in nature.
Fall: Lisbeth Shepherd
Spring: C. Zhong
No required or recommended textbooks

4.183-4.185 Architectural Design Workshop
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
URL: 4.185: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
4.184: Lecture: M12-2 (N52-391)
4.185: Design: R9-12 (5-415)
______
Addresses design inquiry in a studio format. In-depth consideration of selected issues of the built world. The problem may be prototypical or a particular aspect of a whole project, but is always interdisciplinary in nature.
Fall: S. Kennedy
Spring: S. Kennedy, C. Mueller
4.184: No required or recommended textbooks
4.185: No required or recommended textbooks

4.189 Preparation for MArch Thesis
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-5
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
Lecture: W2-5 (10-401) +final
______
Preparatory research development leading to a well-conceived proposition for the MArch design thesis. Students formulate a cohesive thesis argument and critical project using supportive research and case studies through a variety of representational media, critical traditions, and architectural/artistic conventions. Group study in seminar and studio format, with periodic reviews supplemented by conference with faculty and a designated committee member for each individual thesis. Restricted to MArch students.
Fall: Consult W. O'Brien
Spring: R. Shieh
No required or recommended textbooks

4.190 Practical Experience in Architecture
______

Graduate (IAP, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
URL: IAP URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
______
Practical experience through summer and January IAP internships secured by the student in the field of architecture, urbanism, digital design, art, or building technology. Before registering for this subject, students must have an offer from the organization and complete the Department of Architecture application with their advisor's signature. Upon completion of the internship, students must submit an evaluation form available from the departmental academic office. Students are limited to a total of three approved experiences. Restricted to Course 4 graduate students.
T. Haynes
No textbook information available

4.191 Independent Study in Architecture Design
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Supplementary work on individual or group basis. Registration subject to prior arrangement for subject matter and supervision by staff.
Fall: T. Haynes
IAP: T. Haynes
Spring: T. Haynes
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

4.192 Independent Study in Architecture Design
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Supplementary work on individual or group basis. Registration subject to prior arrangement for subject matter and supervision by staff.
Fall: T. Haynes
IAP: T. Haynes
Spring: T. Haynes
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

4.193 Independent Study in Architecture Design
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Supplementary work on individual or group basis. Registration subject to prior arrangement for subject matter and supervision by staff.
Fall: T. Haynes
IAP: T. Haynes
Spring: T. Haynes
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

4.194 Independent Study in Architecture Design
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Supplementary work on individual or group basis. Registration subject to prior arrangement for subject matter and supervision by staff.
Fall: T. Haynes
IAP: T. Haynes
Spring: T. Haynes
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

4.S00 Special Subject: Design
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in design that is not covered in the regular curriculum. Requires original research and presentation of oral and written reports and/or design projects, varying at the discretion of the instructor.
Staff

4.S01 Special Subject: Design
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in design that is not covered in the regular curriculum. Requires original research and presentation of oral and written reports and/or design projects, varying at the discretion of the instructor.
Staff

4.S02 Special Subject: Design
______

Graduate (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in design that is not covered in the regular curriculum. Requires original research and presentation of oral and written reports and/or design projects, varying at the discretion of the instructor.
E. Bilal
No textbook information available

4.S03 Special Subject: Design
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
Lecture: M12-1.30 (3-329)
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in design that is not covered in the regular curriculum. Requires original research and presentation of oral and written reports and/or design projects, varying at the discretion of the instructor.
A. Garcia-Abril Ruiz
No textbook information available

4.S10 Special Subject: Architecture Design
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in architecture design that is not covered in the regular curriculum. Requires original research and presentation of oral and written reports and/or design projects, varying at the discretion of the instructor.
Staff

4.S11 Special Subject: Architecture Design
______

Undergrad (IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in architecture design that is not covered in the regular curriculum. Requires original research and presentation of oral and written reports and/or design projects, varying at the discretion of the instructor.
Staff

4.S12 Special Subject: Architecture Design
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
URL: https://architecture.mit.edu/classes
Lecture: R9-12 (3-329)
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in architecture design that is not covered in the regular curriculum. Requires original research and presentation of oral and written reports and/or design projects, varying at the discretion of the instructor.
Fall: Brandon Clifford
Spring: A. Giorgis, C. Norman
No required or recommended textbooks

4.S13 Special Subject: Architecture Design
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
Lecture: W2-5 (1-136)
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in architecture design that is not covered in the regular curriculum. Requires original research and presentation of oral and written reports and/or design projects, varying at the discretion of the instructor.
A. Bucci
No required or recommended textbooks

4.S14 Special Subject: Architecture Design
______

Graduate (IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
Lecture: M10-1 (1-136)
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in architecture design that is not covered in the regular curriculum. Requires original research and presentation of oral and written reports and/or design projects, varying at the discretion of the instructor.
IAP: Bo-won Keum
Spring: B. Keum
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

4.S15 Special Subject: Design
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
Lecture: M10-1 (5-216)
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in design that is not covered in the regular curriculum. Requires original research and presentation of oral and written reports and/or design projects, varying at the discretion of the instructor.
Y. Daniels
No required or recommended textbooks


left arrow | Architecture Design | Architecture Studies | Art, Culture and Technology | Building Technology | Computation | History, Theory and Criticism of Architecture and Art | Thesis and UROP | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 5: Chemistry
IAP/Spring 2025


5.000[J] Dimensions of Geoengineering
______

Graduate (Fall); first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.850[J], 10.600[J], 11.388[J], 12.884[J], 15.036[J], 16.645[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Familiarizes students with the potential contributions and risks of using geoengineering technologies to control climate damage from global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Discusses geoengineering in relation to other climate change responses: reducing emissions, removing CO2 from the atmosphere, and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Limited to 100.
J. Deutch, M. Zuber

5.002[J] Viruses, Pandemics, and Immunity
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 10.380[J], HST.438[J])
(Subject meets with 5.003[J], 8.245[J], 10.382[J], HST.439[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1
______
Covers the history of infectious diseases, basics of virology, immunology, and epidemiology, and ways in which diagnostic tests, vaccines, and antiviral therapies are currently designed and manufactured. Examines the origins of inequities in infection rates in society, and issues pertinent to vaccine safety. Final project explores how to create a more pandemic-resilient world. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Preference to first-year students; all others should take HST.439.
A. Chakraborty

5.003[J] Viruses, Pandemics, and Immunity
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 8.245[J], 10.382[J], HST.439[J])
(Subject meets with 5.002[J], 10.380[J], HST.438[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1
______
Covers the history of infectious diseases, basics of virology, immunology, and epidemiology, and ways in which diagnostic tests, vaccines, and antiviral therapies are currently designed and manufactured. Examines the origins of inequities in infection rates in society, and issues pertinent to vaccine safety. Final project explores how to create a more pandemic-resilient world. HST.438 intended for first-year students; all others should take HST.439.
A. Chakraborty

5.008[J] Models of Molecular Systems: from Newtonian Mechanics to Machine Learning
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 10.09[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
Lecture: R3-5 (66-148)
______
Seminar-style subject concentrating on modeling creatively while understanding the intrinsic limitations of modeling and alternative ways of envisioning the world. Addresses the purpose of models from different perspectives, with a focus on open-ended problems and creative solutions. Investigates ancient and contemporary approaches, starting with the limitations of Newtonian mechanics to treat molecular systems and solutions provided by statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics, including their use in computations and simulations, and Aristotle's approach. Also covers machine learning and its limitations. Foundational readings inform the analyses with applications including molecular science, color, motion, biology, and nature broadly. Work consists of weekly assignments, class participation, and a final project.
B. L. Trout
No textbook information available

5.009[J] Ocean Chemistry Change Laboratory
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) Partial Lab; first half of term
(Same subject as 12.314[J])
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR)
Units: 1-3-2
______
Introduces marine chemistry and explores how human activity is aggressively modifying Earth's climate system. Familiarizes students with instrumentation, techniques, and concepts utilized to investigate the ocean. Through lab work, students apply general chemistry principles to marine systems and develop new understanding of specific research problems within ocean chemistry and biogeochemistry. Satisfies 3 units of Institute Laboratory credit.
A. Babbin

5.03 Principles of Inorganic Chemistry I
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 5.12
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: TR10.30-12 (2-105) Recitation: MW9 (4-149) or TR2 (2-139) +final
______
Presents principles of chemical bonding and molecular structure, and their application to the chemistry of representative elements of the periodic system.
R. Gilliard, D. Suess
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

5.04 Principles of Inorganic Chemistry II
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 5.03
Units: 4-0-8
______
Systematic presentation of the chemical applications of group theory. Emphasis on the formal development of the subject and its applications to the physical methods of inorganic chemical compounds. Against the backdrop of electronic structure, the electronic, vibrational, and magnetic properties of transition metal complexes are presented and their investigation by the appropriate spectroscopy described.
Y. Surendranath, D. Freedman

5.05 Principles of Inorganic Chemistry III
______

Graduate (Fall); second half of term
Prereq: 5.03; Coreq: 5.04
Units: 2-0-4
______
Principles of main group (s and p block) element chemistry with an emphasis on synthesis, structure, bonding, and reaction mechanisms.
R. Gilliard

5.061 Principles of Organometallic Chemistry
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: 5.03
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: WF9.30-11 (4-159)
______
A comprehensive treatment of organometallic compounds of the transition metals with emphasis on structure, bonding, synthesis, and mechanism.
C. Cummins
No required or recommended textbooks

5.062 Principles of Bioinorganic Chemistry
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall); first half of term
Prereq: 5.03
Units: 2-0-4
______
Delineates principles that form the basis for understanding how metal ions function in biology. Examples chosen from recent literature on a range of topics, including the global biogeochemical cycles of the elements; choice, uptake and assembly of metal-containing units; structure, function and biosynthesis of complex metallocofactors; electron-transfer and redox chemistry; atom and group transfer chemistry; protein tuning of metal properties; metalloprotein engineering and design; and applications to diagnosis and treatment of disease.
D. Suess

5.064 Solid-state Materials Chemistry
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 5.03
Units: 3-0-3
______
Fundamentals of materials chemistry with a focus on solid-state materials. Builds upon ideas of band structure from a chemical perspective and progresses to physical properties, including magnetism and conductivity. 
D. Freedman

5.065 Electrochemistry
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: MWF11 (45-102)
______
Fundamentals of electrochemistry with an emphasis on physical principles, experimental techniques, and select applications. Builds from molecular-level theories of charge transfer reactions and double layer structure and progress to the use of electrochemistry as a method for characterizing redox properties, synthesizing materials, and interconverting electrical and chemical energy. Background in organic chemistry required.
Y. Surendranath
No required or recommended textbooks

5.067 Crystal Structure Refinement
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 5.069 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-3-1
______
Practical aspects of crystal structure determination from data collection strategies to data reduction and basic and advanced refinement problems of organic and inorganic molecules.
P. Mueller

5.068 Physical Inorganic Chemistry
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 5.03 and 5.04
Units: 3-0-3
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MWF11 (4-159)
______
Discusses the physical methods used to probe the electronic and geometric structures of inorganic compounds, with additional techniques employed in the characterization of inorganic solids and surfaces. Includes vibrational spectroscopy, solid state and solution magnetochemical methods, Mossbauer spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, electrochemical methods, and a brief survey of surface techniques. Applications to current research problems in inorganic and solid-state chemistry.
D. Freedman
No required or recommended textbooks

5.069 Crystal Structure Analysis
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: 5.03 and 5.04
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR9-10.30 (2-105)
______
Introduction to X-ray crystallography: symmetry in real and reciprocal space, space and Laue groups, geometry of diffraction, structure factors, phase problem, direct and Patterson methods, electron density maps, structure refinement, crystal growth, powder methods, limits of diffraction methods, structure data bases.
P. Mueller
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

5.07[J] Introduction to Biological Chemistry
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 20.507[J])
Prereq: 5.12
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 7.05
______
Chemical and physical properties of the cell and its building blocks. Structures of proteins and principles of catalysis. The chemistry of organic/inorganic cofactors required for chemical transformations within the cell. Basic principles of metabolism and regulation in pathways, including glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, fatty acid synthesis/degradation, pentose phosphate pathway, Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, DNA replication, and transcription and translation.
X. Wang, O. Johnson

5.08[J] Fundamentals of Chemical Biology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 7.08[J])
(Subject meets with 7.80)
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), 5.13, and (5.07 or 7.05)) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (56-114) Recitation: W3 (26-142) or W4 (26-142) or R3 (8-205) or R4 (8-205)
______
Spanning the fields of biology, chemistry, and engineering, this class introduces students to the principles of chemical biology and the application of chemical and physical methods and reagents to the study and manipulation of biological systems. Topics include nucleic acid structure, recognition, and manipulation; protein folding and stability, and proteostasis; bioorthogonal reactions and activity-based protein profiling; chemical genetics and small-molecule inhibitor screening; fluorescent probes for biological analysis and imaging; and unnatural amino acid mutagenesis. The class will also discuss the logic of dynamic post-translational modification reactions with an emphasis on chemical biology approaches for studying complex processes including glycosylation, phosphorylation, and lipidation. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
B. Imperiali, M. Shoulders
No required or recommended textbooks

5.111 Principles of Chemical Science
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Chemistry
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 3.091, 5.112, CC.5111, ES.5111, ES.5112
Lecture: MWF12 (32-123) Recitation: TR10 (36-112) or TR11 (36-112, 36-144) or TR12 (36-144, 24-112, 26-168) or TR1 (26-168, 24-112, 36-156) or TR2 (36-156, 26-142) or TR3 (36-156) or TR10 (36-144) +final
______
Introduction to chemistry, with emphasis on basic principles of atomic and molecular electronic structure, thermodynamics, acid-base and redox equilibria, chemical kinetics, and catalysis. Introduction to the chemistry of biological, inorganic, and organic molecules.
Fall: B. McGuire, M. Shoulders
Spring: A. Willard, M. Hong
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

5.112 Principles of Chemical Science
______

Undergrad (Fall) Chemistry
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 3.091, 5.111, CC.5111, ES.5111, ES.5112
______
Introduction to chemistry for students who have taken two or more years of high school chemistry or who have earned a score of at least 4 on the ETS Advanced Placement Exam.  Emphasis on basic principles of atomic and molecular electronic structure, thermodynamics, acid-base and redox equilibria, chemical kinetics, and catalysis. Applications of basic principles to problems in metal coordination chemistry, organic chemistry, and biological chemistry.
S. Ceyer, C. Cummins

5.12 Organic Chemistry I
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for CC.512
Lecture: MWF12 (10-250) Recitation: MW9 (36-372, 4-145, 36-153) or MW10 (36-372) or MW3 (4-265) or TR11 (66-156) or TR12 (2-136, 66-156, 4-265, 36-112, 2-142) or TR1 (2-136, 66-156, 2-139) or TR2 (2-136, 66-160) or TR3 (2-136) +final
______
Introduction to organic chemistry. Development of basic principles to understand the structure and reactivity of organic molecules. Emphasis on substitution and elimination reactions and chemistry of the carbonyl group. Introduction to the chemistry of aromatic compounds.
Fall: J. Johnson, A. Wendlandt
Spring: R. Danheiser
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

5.13 Organic Chemistry II
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 5.12
Units: 5-0-7
______
Focuses on synthesis, structure determination, mechanism, and the relationships between structure and reactivity. Selected topics illustrate the role of organic chemistry in biological systems and in the chemical industry.
M. Elkin, S. Buchwald

5.24[J] Archaeological Science
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 3.985[J], 12.011[J])
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR) or Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-1-5
Lecture: M EVE (7-10 PM) (6-120)
______
Pressing issues in archaeology as an anthropological science. Stresses the natural science and engineering methods archaeologists use to address these issues. Reconstructing time, space, and human ecologies provides one focus; materials technologies that transform natural materials to material culture provide another. Topics include 14C dating, ice core and palynological analysis, GIS and other remote sensing techniques for site location, organic residue analysis, comparisons between Old World and New World bronze production, invention of rubber by Mesoamerican societies, analysis and conservation of Dead Sea Scrolls.
J. Meanwell
No textbook information available

5.301 Chemistry Laboratory Techniques
______

Undergrad (IAP)
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR) and permission of instructor
Units: 1-4-1 [P/D/F]
______
Practical training in basic chemistry laboratory techniques. Intended to provide students with the skills necessary to undertake original research projects in chemistry. Limited to first-year students in IAP (application required); open to all students in spring (enrollment by lottery).
J. Dolhun
Textbooks (IAP 2025)

5.302 Introduction to Experimental Chemistry
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (IAP); partial term
Prereq: None
Units: 0-3-0 [P/D/F]
______
Illustrates fundamental principles of chemical science through practical experience with chemical phenomena. Students explore the theoretical concepts of chemistry through the experiments which informed their discovery, and make chemistry happen with activities that are intellectually stimulating and fun. Preference to first-year students.
P. Venkatesan

5.310 Laboratory Chemistry
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Institute Lab
Prereq: None. Coreq: 5.12
Units: 2-7-3
Safety lecture mandatory. 2/5, 1pm for mw students;. 2/6, 1pm for tr students;. Both virtual. Lecture: F2.30-4 (4-237) Lab: MW1-5 (12-5170B) or TR1-5 (12-5170B)
______
Introduces experimental chemistry for students who are not majoring in Course 5. Principles and applications of chemical laboratory techniques, including preparation and analysis of chemical materials, measurement of pH, gas and liquid chromatography, visible-ultraviolet spectrophotometry, infrared spectroscopy, kinetics, data analysis, and elementary synthesis, are described, in addition to experimental design principles. Includes instruction and practice in written and oral communication to multiple audiences. Enrollment limited.
Fall: P. Venkatesan, J. Dolhun
Spring: P. Venkatesan, J. Dolhun
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

5.351 Fundamentals of Spectroscopy
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Partial Lab; partial term
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR)
Units: 1-2-1
Safety lecture mandatory. 2/5, 1pm for mw students;. 2/6, 1pm for tr students;. Both virtual. Lecture: TR12 (MEETS 2/5 TO 3/4) (32-124) Lab: MW1-5 (12-5170B) or TR1-5 (12-5170B)
______
Students carry out an experiment that introduces fundamental principles of the most common types of spectroscopy, including UV-visible absorption and fluorescence, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance. Emphasizes principles of how light interacts with matter, a fundamental and hands-on understanding of how spectrometers work, and what can be learned through spectroscopy about prototype molecules and materials. Students record and analyze spectra of small organic molecules, native and denatured proteins, semiconductor quantum dots, and laser crystals. Satisfies 4 units of Institute Laboratory credit.
Fall: J. Dolhun, K. Nelson
Spring: J. Dolhun, K. Nelson
No required or recommended textbooks

5.352 Synthesis of Coordination Compounds and Kinetics
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Partial Lab; partial term
Prereq: None. Coreq: 5.351
Units: 1-2-2
Safety lecture mandatory. 2/5, 1pm for mw students;. 2/6, 1pm for tr students;. Both virtual. Lecture: TR12 (MEETS 3/10 TO 4/8) (32-124) Lab: MW1-5 (12-5170B) or TR1-5 (12-5170B)
______
Students carry out an experiment that provides an introduction to the synthesis of simple coordination compounds and chemical kinetics. Illustrates cobalt coordination chemistry and its transformations as detected by visible spectroscopy. Students observe isosbestic points in visible spectra, determine the rate and rate law, measure the rate constant at several temperatures, and derive the activation energy for the aquation reaction. Satisfies 5 units of Institute Laboratory credit.
Fall: J. Dolhun, A. Radosevich
Spring: J. Dolhun, A. Radosevich
No required or recommended textbooks

5.353 Macromolecular Prodrugs
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Partial Lab; partial term
Prereq: None. Coreq: 5.12 and 5.352
Units: 1-2-1
Safety lecture mandatory. 2/5, 1pm for mw students;. 2/6, 1pm for tr students;. Both virtual. Lecture: TR12 (BEGINS APR 14) (32-124) Lab: MW1-5 (12-5170B) or TR1-5 (12-5170B)
______
Students carry out an experiment that builds skills in how to rationally design macromolecules for drug delivery based on fundamental principles of physical organic chemistry. Begins with conjugation of a drug molecule to a polymerizable group through a cleavable linker to generate a prodrug monomer. Continues with polymerization of monomer to produce macromolecular (i.e., polymer) prodrug; monomer and polymer prodrugs are fully characterized. Rate of drug release is measured and correlated to the size of the macromolecule as well as the structure of the cleavable linker. Satisfies 4 units of Institute Laboratory credit.
Fall: J. Dolhun, J. Johnson
Spring: J. Dolhun, J. Johnson
No required or recommended textbooks

5.361 Recombinant DNA Technology
______

Undergrad (Spring); partial term
Prereq: (5.07 or 7.05) and (5.310 or 5.352)
Units: 1-2-1
Safety lecture mandatory. 2/5, 1pm for mw students;. 2/6, 1pm for tr students;. Both virtual. Lecture: TR12 (MEETS 2/5 TO 3/4) (4-231) Lab: MW1-5 (12-5170B) or TR1-5 (12-5170B)
______
Students explore the biochemical basis for the efficacy of a blockbuster drug: Gleevec, which is used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia. Its target, Abl kinase, is produced in E. coli by recombinant DNA technology, purified using affinity chromatography, and analyzed with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, UV-vis spectroscopy, and a colorimetric assay. Natural mutations found in Gleevec-resistant cancer patients are introduced into the ABL1 proto-oncogene with PCR-based mutagenesis and analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis.
L. Nolan, J. Dolhun
No required or recommended textbooks

5.362 Cancer Drug Efficacy
______

Undergrad (Spring); partial term
Prereq: (5.07 or 7.05) and (5.310 or 5.352); Coreq: 5.361
Units: 1-2-2
Safety lecture mandatory. 2/5, 1pm for mw students;. 2/6, 1pm for tr students;. Both virtual. Lecture: TR12 (MEETS 3/10 TO 4/3) (4-231) Lab: MW1-5 (12-5170B) or TR1-5 (12-5170B)
______
Students probe the structural basis for the development of resistance to Gleevec by cancer patients. LC-MS is used to quantify the effect of Gleevec on catalysis by wild-type Abl kinase and a Gleevec-resistant variant (Module 4). Other potential drugs are tested as inhibitors of the Abl variant. Molecular graphics software is used to understand catalysis by Abl kinase, its inhibition by Gleevec, and the basis for drug resistance.
L. Nolan, J. Dolhun
No required or recommended textbooks

5.363 Organic Structure Determination
______

Undergrad (Fall) Partial Lab; partial term
Prereq: 5.12; Coreq: 5.13
Units: 1-2-1
______
Introduces modern methods for the elucidation of the structure of organic compounds. Students carry out transition metal-catalyzed coupling reactions, based on chemistry developed in the Buchwald laboratory, using reactants of unknown structure. Students also perform full spectroscopic characterization - by proton and carbon NMR, IR, and mass spectrometry of the reactants - and carry out coupling products in order to identify the structures of each compound. Other techniques include transfer and manipulation of organic and organometallic reagents and compounds, separation by extraction, and purification by column chromatography. Satisfies 4 units of Institute Laboratory credit.
J. Dolhun, M. Strauss

5.371 Continuous Flow Chemistry: Sustainable Conversion of Reclaimed Vegetable Oil into Biodiesel
______

Undergrad (Spring); partial term
Prereq: 5.13 and 5.363
Units: 1-2-1
Safety lecture mandatory. 2/5, 1pm for mw students;. 2/6, 1pm for tr students;. Both virtual. Lecture: TR12 (MEETS 4/9 TO 5/8) (4-231) Lab: MW1-5 (12-5170B) or TR1-5 (12-5170B)
______
Presents the theoretical and practical fundamentals of continuous flow synthesis, wherein pumps, tubes, and connectors are used to conduct chemical reactions instead of flasks, beakers, etc. Focuses on a catalytic reaction that converts natural vegetable oil into biodiesel that can be used in a variety of combustion engines. Provides instruction in several important organic chemistry experimental techniques, including purification by extraction, rotary evaporation, acid-base titration, gas chromatography (GC), and 1H NMR.
J. Dolhun
No required or recommended textbooks

5.372 Chemistry of Renewable Energy
______

Undergrad (Fall); partial term
Prereq: 5.03 and 5.352
Units: 1-2-1
______
Introduces the electrochemical processes that underlie renewable energy storage and recovery. Students investigate charge transfer reactions at electrode surfaces that are critical to the operation of advanced batteries, fuel cells, and electrolyzers. Develops basic theory behind inner- and outer-sphere charge transfer reactions at interfaces and applies this theory to construct mechanistic models for important energy conversion reactions including the reduction of O2 to water and the reduction of protons to H2. Students will also synthesize new catalytic materials for these reactions and investigate their relative performance.
J. Dolhun, Y. Surendranath

5.373 Synthesis of Boron Heterocycles
______

Undergrad (Fall); partial term
Prereq: 5.03 and 5.363
Units: 1-2-1
______
Experimental module focused on the synthesis and characterization of boron heterocycles, which are used as chemical synthons for metal complexes, small-molecule activation (e.g., carbon dioxide), catalysis mediators, components of optoelectronic materials, monomers for polymeric systems, and molecular building blocks for photochemistry. Covers techniques such as glovebox and Schlenk line methods for synthesis in the absence of oxygen and water; ligand effects, filtration, reaction mixture concentration, and recrystallization under an inert atmosphere. Characterization methods include proton and boron NMR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and fluorescence measurements.
R. Gilliard, P. Mueller, J. Dolhun

5.381 Quantum Dots
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring); partial term
Prereq: 5.353 and 5.611
Units: 1-2-1
______
Covers synthesis of a discrete size series of quantum dots, followed by synthesis of a single size of core/shell quantum dots utilizing air-free Schlenk manipulation of precursors. Uses characterization by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies to rationalize the compositional/size dependence of the shell on the electronic structure of the quantum dots. Students acquire time traces of the fluorescence of single core and core/shell quantum dots using single molecule spectroscopic tools. The fluorescence on/off blinking distribution observed will be fit to a standard model. Students use Matlab for computational modeling of the electron and hole wavefunction in core and core/shell quantum dots. Analyzes several commercial applications of quantum dot technologies.
M. Bawendi, J. Dolhun

5.382 Time- and Frequency-resolved Spectroscopy of Photosynthesis
______

Undergrad (Spring); partial term
Prereq: 5.611 and (5.07 or 7.05); Coreq: 5.361
Units: 1-2-2
Lecture: TR12 (BEGINS APR 14) (4-145) Lab: MW1-5 (12-5170B) or TR1-5 (12-5170B)
______
Uses time- and frequency-resolved fluorescence measurements to investigate photosynthetic light harvesting and energy transfer.
G. Schlau-Cohen, J. Dolhun
No required or recommended textbooks

5.383 Fast-flow Peptide and Protein Synthesis
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring); partial term
Prereq: 5.363 and (5.07 or 7.05)
Units: 1-2-1
______
Develops understanding of both the theory and practice of fundamental techniques in biological chemistry, including chemical reactivity (amide-bond formation, solid phase synthesis, disulfide bond formation, and protecting group chemistry); separation science for purification and analysis, such as preparative HPLC and MALDI-TOF MS; and protein structure-function relationships (protein folding and binding). Periodically, guest lecturers from the local biotech research community will describe practical applications in industry.
B. Pentelute, J. Dolhun

5.39 Research and Communication in Chemistry
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: An approved research experience and permission of instructor
Units: 2-12-6
Lecture: F2-4 (2-136) Lab: TBA
______
Independent research under the direction of a member of the Chemistry Department faculty. Allows students with a strong interest in independent research to fulfill  part of the laboratory requirement for the Chemistry Department Program in the context of a research laboratory at MIT. The research must be conducted on the MIT campus and be a continuation of a previous 12-unit UROP project or full-time work over the summer. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication is provided, culminating in a poster presentation of the work at the annual departmental UROP symposium and a research publication-style writeup of the results.  Permission of the faculty research advisor and the Chemistry Education Office must be obtained in advance.
A. Radosevich
No required or recommended textbooks

5.43 Advanced Organic Chemistry
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 5.13
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR9-10.30 (56-180) Recitation: F10 (2-136) +final
______
Reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry: methods of investigation, relation of structure to reactivity, and reactive intermediates. Photochemistry and organometallic chemistry, with an emphasis on fundamental reactivity, mechanistic studies, and applications in organic chemistry.
T. Swager
No required or recommended textbooks

5.44 Organometallic Chemistry
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall); second half of term
Prereq: 5.061, 5.43, 5.47, or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Examination of the most important transformations of organotransition-metal species. Emphasizes basic mechanisms of their reactions, structure-reactivity relationships, and applications in synthesis.
A. Wendlandt

5.45 Heterocyclic Chemistry
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: 5.511 and 5.53
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR9-10.30 (4-265)
______
Provides an introduction to the chemistry of heterocyclic compounds. Surveys synthesis and reactivity of the major classes of heterocyclic organic compounds. Discusses the importance of these molecules in the pharmaceutical and other industries.
S. Buchwald
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

5.46 NMR Spectroscopy and Organic Structure Determination
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: 5.13
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR10.30-12 (4-149)
______
Applications of multinuclear NMR spectroscopy to the study of organic compounds.
W. Massefski
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

5.47 Tutorial in Organic Chemistry
______

Graduate (Fall); partial term
Prereq: 5.43 and permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
Systematic review of fundamental concepts concerned with the structure and transformations of organic molecules. Problem-solving workshop format. The program is intended primarily for first-year graduate students with a strong interest in organic chemistry. Meets during the month of September.
Staff

5.48[J] Protein Folding in Health and Disease
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring); first half of term
(Same subject as 7.88[J])
Prereq: (5.07 or 7.05) and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
______
Focuses on understanding the chemical and biological mechanisms of protein folding, misfolding, aggregation, and quality control. Topics covered include: molecular mechanisms of protein folding; experimental and computational strategies to study protein folding; how cells fold and quality control proteins; protein misfolding and aggregation; proteostasis and human disease; strategies to address protein folding failures in disease; and protein folding in biotechnology development. Provides state-of-the-art understanding of the field, fosters ability to critically assess and use the literature, and empowers students to study and address protein folding issues in their research and beyond.
M. Shoulders

5.49 Chemical Microbiology
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: (5.07 or 7.05) and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: W EVE (5-8 PM) (56-167)
______
Focuses on molecular understanding of fundamental processes central to microbial physiology and infectious disease. Topics covered vary and may include (i) secondary metabolite biosynthesis and function, (ii) small molecule mediators of microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions, (iii) membrane assembly, (iv) metal homeostasis and regulation, (v) antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, (vi) chemistry of the microbiome, and (vii) molecular basis of host-pathogen interactions. Integrates experimental approaches and primary literature.
L. Nolan
No textbook information available


left arrow | 5.00-5.4999 | 5.50-5.999, plus UROP and Theses | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 6: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
IAP/Spring 2025


Programming & Software Engineering

6.100A Introduction to Computer Science Programming in Python
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Credit cannot also be received for 6.100L
URL: https://introcomp.mit.edu/spring25
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: MW3-4.30 (26-100) Recitation: F10 (5-134) or F11 (5-134, 24-121) or F12 (24-121) or F1 (5-134) or F2 (5-134) or F1 (5-217) or F2 (5-217)
______
Introduction to computer science and programming for students with little or no programming experience. Students develop skills to program and use computational techniques to solve problems. Topics include the notion of computation, Python, simple algorithms and data structures, testing and debugging, and algorithmic complexity. Combination of 6.100A and 6.100B or 16.C20 counts as REST subject. Final given in the seventh week of the term.
Fall: A. Bell
Spring: A. Bell
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

6.100B Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 6.100A or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Credit cannot also be received for 9.C20, 16.C20, 18.C20, CSE.C20
URL: https://introcomp.mit.edu/spring25
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3-4.30 (26-100) Recitation: F10 (5-134) or F11 (5-134, 24-121) or F12 (24-121) or F1 (5-134) or F2 (5-134) or F1 (5-217) or F2 (5-217)
______
Provides an introduction to using computation to understand real-world phenomena. Topics include plotting, stochastic programs, probability and statistics, random walks, Monte Carlo simulations, modeling data, optimization problems, and clustering. Combination of 6.100A and 6.100B counts as REST subject.
Fall: A. Bell
Spring: A. Bell
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

6.100L Introduction to Computer Science and Programming
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Credit cannot also be received for 6.100A
URL: https://introcomp.mit.edu/6.100L_sp25
Lecture: MW3-4.30 (34-101) Recitation: F10 (32-123)
______
Introduction to computer science and programming for students with no programming experience. Presents content taught in 6.100A over an entire semester. Students develop skills to program and use computational techniques to solve problems. Topics include the notion of computation, Python, simple algorithms and data structures, testing and debugging, and algorithmic complexity. Lectures are viewed outside of class; in-class time is dedicated to problem-solving and discussion. Combination of 6.100L and 6.100B or 16.C20 counts as REST subject.
Fall: A. Bell
Spring: A. Bell
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

6.1010 Fundamentals of Programming
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Institute Lab
Prereq: 6.100A
Units: 2-4-6
Lecture: MW9 (32-124) or MW10 (32-124, 32-144) or MW11 (56-154, 37-212) or MW1 (4-163, 32-124) or MW2 (4-163) or MW3 (3-270) or MW12 (32-124) Lab: F10-1 (32-044) or F2-5 (32-044) +final
______
Introduces fundamental concepts of programming. Designed to develop skills in applying basic methods from programming languages to abstract problems. Topics include programming and Python basics, computational concepts, software engineering, algorithmic techniques, data types, and recursion.  Lab component consists of software design, construction, and implementation of design. Enrollment may be limited.
Fall: R. Miller
Spring: A. Hartz
No textbook information available

6.1020 Software Construction
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1010
Units: 3-0-12
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (26-100) +final
______
Introduces fundamental principles and techniques of software development: how to write software that is safe from bugs, easy to understand, and ready for change. Topics include specifications and invariants; testing, test-case generation, and coverage; abstract data types and representation independence; design patterns for object-oriented programming; concurrent programming, including message passing and shared memory concurrency, and defending against races and deadlock; and functional programming with immutable data and higher-order functions. Includes weekly programming exercises and larger group programming projects.
M. Goldman
No required or recommended textbooks

6.1040 Software Design
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 6.1020 and 6.1200
Units: 4-0-14
______
Provides design-focused instruction on how to build complex software applications. Design topics include classic human-computer interaction (HCI) design tactics (need finding, heuristic evaluation, prototyping, user testing), conceptual design (inventing, modeling and evaluating constituent concepts), social and ethical implications, abstract data modeling, and visual design. Implementation topics include reactive front-ends, web services, and databases. Students work both on individual projects and a larger team project in which they design and build full-stack web applications.
A. Satyanarayan

6.1060 Software Performance Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 6.1020, 6.1210, and 6.1910
Units: 3-12-3
______
Project-based introduction to building efficient, high-performance and scalable software systems. Topics include performance analysis, algorithmic techniques for high performance, instruction-level optimizations, vectorization, cache and memory hierarchy optimization, and parallel programming.
C. Leiserson

6.5060 Algorithm Engineering
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1060 and 6.1220
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers the theory and practice of algorithms and data structures. Topics include models of computation, algorithm design and analysis, and performance engineering of algorithm implementations. Presents the design and implementation of sequential, parallel, cache-efficient, and external-memory algorithms. Illustrates many of the principles of algorithm engineering in the context of parallel algorithms and graph problems.
Staff

6.5080 Multicore Programming
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 6.5081)
Prereq: 6.1210
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduces principles and core techniques for programming multicore machines. Topics include locking, scalability, concurrent data structures, multiprocessor scheduling, load balancing, and state-of-the-art synchronization techniques, such as transactional memory. Includes sequence of programming assignments on a large multicore machine, culminating with the design of a highly concurrent application. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
N. Shavit

6.5081 Multicore Programming
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 6.5080)
Prereq: 6.1210
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduces principles and core techniques for programming multicore machines. Topics include locking, scalability, concurrent data structures, multiprocessor scheduling, load balancing, and state-of-the-art synchronization techniques, such as transactional memory. Includes sequence of programming assignments on a large multicore machine, culminating with the design of a highly concurrent application. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

Programming Languages

6.1100 Computer Language Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1020 and 6.1910
Units: 4-4-4
Lecture: MWF11 (32-123) Recitation: TR12 (32-155)
______
Analyzes issues associated with the implementation of higher-level programming languages. Fundamental concepts, functions, and structures of compilers. The interaction of theory and practice. Using tools in building software. Includes a multi-person project on compiler design and implementation.
M. Rinard
No textbook information available

6.1120 Dynamic Computer Language Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 6.1020 or 6.1910
Units: 4-4-4
______
Studies the design and implementation of modern, dynamic programming languages. Topics include fundamental approaches for parsing, semantics and interpretation, virtual machines, garbage collection, just-in-time machine code generation, and optimization. Includes a semester-long, group project that delivers a virtual machine that spans all of these topics.
M. Rinard

6.5110 Foundations of Program Analysis
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 6.1100
Units: 3-0-9
______
Presents major principles and techniques for program analysis. Includes formal semantics, type systems and type-based program analysis, abstract interpretation and model checking and synthesis. Emphasis on Haskell and Ocaml, but no prior experience in these languages is assumed. Student assignments include implementing of techniques covered in class, including building simple verifiers.
A. Solar-Lezama

6.5120 Formal Reasoning About Programs
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1020 and 6.1200
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys techniques for rigorous mathematical reasoning about correctness of software, emphasizing commonalities across approaches. Introduces interactive computer theorem proving with the Coq proof assistant, which is used for all assignments, providing immediate feedback on soundness of logical arguments. Covers common program-proof techniques, including operational semantics, model checking, abstract interpretation, type systems, program logics, and their applications to functional, imperative, and concurrent programs. Develops a common conceptual framework based on invariants, abstraction, and modularity applied to state and labeled transition systems.
A. Chlipala

6.5150 Large-scale Symbolic Systems
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 6.5151)
Prereq: 6.4100 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MWF2 (35-225)
______
Concepts and techniques for the design and implementation of large software systems that can be adapted to uses not anticipated by the designer. Applications include compilers, computer-algebra systems, deductive systems, and some artificial intelligence applications. Covers means for decoupling goals from strategy, mechanisms for implementing additive data-directed invocation, work with partially-specified entities, and how to manage multiple viewpoints. Topics include combinators, generic operations, pattern matching, pattern-directed invocation, rule systems, backtracking, dependencies, indeterminacy, memoization, constraint propagation, and incremental refinement. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
G. J. Sussman
No textbook information available

6.5151 Large-scale Symbolic Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 6.5150)
Prereq: 6.4100 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MWF2 (35-225)
______
Concepts and techniques for the design and implementation of large software systems that can be adapted to uses not anticipated by the designer. Applications include compilers, computer-algebra systems, deductive systems, and some artificial intelligence applications. Covers means for decoupling goals from strategy, mechanisms for implementing additive data-directed invocation, work with partially-specified entities, and how to manage multiple viewpoints. Topics include combinators, generic operations, pattern matching, pattern-directed invocation, rule systems, backtracking, dependencies, indeterminacy, memoization, constraint propagation, and incremental refinement. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
G. Sussman
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

6.5160[J] Classical Mechanics: A Computational Approach
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 8.351[J], 12.620[J])
Prereq: Physics I (GIR), 18.03, and permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
______
Classical mechanics in a computational framework, Lagrangian formulation, action, variational principles, and Hamilton's principle. Conserved quantities, Hamiltonian formulation, surfaces of section, chaos, and Liouville's theorem. Poincaré integral invariants, Poincaré-Birkhoff and KAM theorems. Invariant curves and cantori. Nonlinear resonances, resonance overlap and transition to chaos. Symplectic integration. Adiabatic invariants. Applications to simple physical systems and solar system dynamics. Extensive use of computation to capture methods, for simulation, and for symbolic analysis. Programming experience required.
J. Wisdom, G. J. Sussman

Theoretical Computer Science

6.1200[J] Mathematics for Computer Science
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 18.062[J])
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (26-100) Recitation: WF10 (38-166, 36-155) or WF11 (38-166, 36-155, 26-168) or WF12 (38-166, 36-156, 26-168) or WF1 (38-166, 36-156, 35-310) or WF2 (38-166, 36-156, 35-308) or WF3 (38-166, 36-156) +final
______
Elementary discrete mathematics for science and engineering, with a focus on mathematical tools and proof techniques useful in computer science. Topics include logical notation, sets, relations, elementary graph theory, state machines and invariants, induction and proofs by contradiction, recurrences, asymptotic notation, elementary analysis of algorithms, elementary number theory and cryptography, permutations and combinations, counting tools, and discrete probability.
Fall: Z. Abel
Spring: Z. Abel
No textbook information available

6.120A Discrete Mathematics and Proof for Computer Science
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR)
Units: 3-0-3
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR1-2.30 (32-144) Recitation: WF1 (13-3101) or WF2 (13-3101) +final
______
Subset of elementary discrete mathematics for science and engineering useful in computer science. Topics may include logical notation, sets, done relations, elementary graph theory, state machines and invariants, induction and proofs by contradiction, recurrences, asymptotic notation, elementary analysis of algorithms, elementary number theory and cryptography, permutations and combinations, counting tools.
P. Jaillet
No textbook information available

6.1210 Introduction to Algorithms
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: 6.100A and (6.1200 or (6.120A and (6.3700, 6.3800, 18.05, or 18.600)))
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (26-100) Recitation: WF10 (34-304, 34-303, 36-156) or WF11 (34-304, 34-303, 34-301) or WF12 (34-304, 34-301) or WF1 (34-304, 34-303, 34-301) or WF2 (34-304, 34-303, 34-301) or WF3 (34-304, 34-301) or WF4 (34-304) or WF10 (36-153) or WF4 (36-155) +final
______
Introduction to mathematical modeling of computational problems, as well as common algorithms, algorithmic paradigms, and data structures used to solve these problems. Emphasizes the relationship between algorithms and programming, and introduces basic performance measures and analysis techniques for these problems. Enrollment may be limited.
Fall: B. Chapman
Spring: B. Chapman
No textbook information available

6.1220[J] Design and Analysis of Algorithms
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
(Same subject as 18.410[J])
Prereq: 6.1200 and 6.1210
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (32-123) Recitation: F9 (36-112) or F10 (36-112) or F11 (36-112) or F12 (36-112) or F1 (36-112) or F2 (36-112) or F3 (36-112) or F10 (24-121) or F11 (4-265) or F12 (4-265) or F1 (4-265) or F2 (24-121) or F3 (24-121) +final
______
Techniques for the design and analysis of efficient algorithms, emphasizing methods useful in practice. Topics include sorting; search trees, heaps, and hashing; divide-and-conquer; dynamic programming; greedy algorithms; amortized analysis; graph algorithms; and shortest paths. Advanced topics may include network flow; computational geometry; number-theoretic algorithms; polynomial and matrix calculations; caching; and parallel computing.
Fall: S. Raghuraman
Spring: S. Raghuraman
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

6.1400[J] Computability and Complexity Theory
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 18.400[J])
Prereq: (6.1200 and 6.1210) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (37-212) Recitation: F11 (4-257) or F1 (24-121) +final
______
Mathematical introduction to the theory of computing. Rigorously explores what kinds of tasks can be efficiently solved with computers by way of finite automata, circuits, Turing machines, and communication complexity, introducing students to some major open problems in mathematics. Builds skills in classifying computational tasks in terms of their difficulty. Discusses other fundamental issues in computing, including the Halting Problem, the Church-Turing Thesis, the P versus NP problem, and the power of randomness.  
R. Williams
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

6.1420 Fixed Parameter and Fine-grained Computation
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 6.1200, 6.1210, and (6.1220, 6.1400, or 18.404)
Units: 3-0-9
______
An overview of the theory of parameterized algorithms and the "problem-centric" theory of fine-grained complexity, both of which reconsider how to measure the difficulty and feasibility of solving computational problems. Topics include: fixed-parameter tractability (FPT) and its characterizations, the W-hierarchy (W[1], W[2], W[P], etc.), 3-sum-hardness, all-pairs shortest paths (APSP)-equivalences, strong exponential time hypothesis (SETH) hardness of problems, and the connections to circuit complexity and other aspects of computing.
V. Vassilevska Williams

6.5210[J] Advanced Algorithms
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 18.415[J])
Prereq: 6.1220 and (6.1200, 6.3700, or 18.600)
Units: 5-0-7
______
First-year graduate subject in algorithms. Emphasizes fundamental algorithms and advanced methods of algorithmic design, analysis, and implementation. Surveys a variety of computational models and the algorithms for them. Data structures, network flows, linear programming, computational geometry, approximation algorithms, online algorithms, parallel algorithms, external memory, streaming algorithms.
D. Karger

6.5220[J] Randomized Algorithms
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 18.416[J])
Prereq: (6.1200 or 6.3700) and (6.1220 or 6.5210)
Units: 5-0-7
______
Studies how randomization can be used to make algorithms simpler and more efficient via random sampling, random selection of witnesses, symmetry breaking, and Markov chains. Models of randomized computation. Data structures: hash tables, and skip lists. Graph algorithms: minimum spanning trees, shortest paths, and minimum cuts. Geometric algorithms: convex hulls, linear programming in fixed or arbitrary dimension. Approximate counting; parallel algorithms; online algorithms; derandomization techniques; and tools for probabilistic analysis of algorithms.
Staff

6.5230 Advanced Data Structures
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1220
Units: 3-0-9
______
More advanced and powerful data structures for answering several queries on the same data. Such structures are crucial in particular for designing efficient algorithms. Dictionaries; hashing; search trees. Self-adjusting data structures; linear search; splay trees; dynamic optimality. Integer data structures; word RAM. Predecessor problem; van Emde Boas priority queues; y-fast trees; fusion trees. Lower bounds; cell-probe model; round elimination. Dynamic graphs; link-cut trees; dynamic connectivity. Strings; text indexing; suffix arrays; suffix trees. Static data structures; compact arrays; rank and select. Succinct data structures; tree encodings; implicit data structures. External-memory and cache-oblivious data structures; B-trees; buffer trees; tree layout; ordered-file maintenance. Temporal data structures; persistence; retroactivity.
Staff

6.5240 Sublinear Time Algorithms
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 6.1220 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Sublinear time algorithms understand parameters and properties of input data after viewing only a minuscule fraction of it. Tools from number theory, combinatorics, linear algebra, optimization theory, distributed algorithms, statistics, and probability are covered. Topics include: testing and estimating properties of distributions, functions, graphs, strings, point sets, and various combinatorial objects.
R. Rubinfeld

6.5250[J] Distributed Algorithms
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 18.437[J])
Prereq: 6.1220
Units: 3-0-9
______
Design and analysis of algorithms, emphasizing those suitable for use in distributed networks. Covers various topics including distributed graph algorithms, locality constraints, bandwidth limitations and communication complexity, process synchronization, allocation of computational resources, fault tolerance, and asynchrony. No background in distributed systems required.
M. Ghaffari, N. A. Lynch

6.5310 Geometric Folding Algorithms: Linkages, Origami, Polyhedra
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1220 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (32-082)
______
Covers discrete geometry and algorithms underlying the reconfiguration of foldable structures, with applications to robotics, manufacturing, and biology. Linkages made from one-dimensional rods connected by hinges: constructing polynomial curves, characterizing rigidity, characterizing unfoldable versus locked, protein folding. Folding two-dimensional paper (origami): characterizing flat foldability, algorithmic origami design, one-cut magic trick. Unfolding and folding three-dimensional polyhedra: edge unfolding, vertex unfolding, gluings, Alexandrov's Theorem, hinged dissections.
E. Demaine
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

6.5320 Geometric Computing
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1220
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to the design and analysis of algorithms for geometric problems, in low- and high-dimensional spaces. Algorithms: convex hulls, polygon triangulation, Delaunay triangulation, motion planning, pattern matching. Geometric data structures: point location, Voronoi diagrams, Binary Space Partitions. Geometric problems in higher dimensions: linear programming, closest pair problems. High-dimensional nearest neighbor search and low-distortion embeddings between metric spaces. Geometric algorithms for massive data sets: external memory and streaming algorithms. Geometric optimization.
Staff

6.5340 Topics in Algorithmic Game Theory
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 6.1210 or 6.1220
Units: 3-0-9
______
Presents research topics at the interface of computer science and game theory, with an emphasis on algorithms and computational complexity. Explores the types of game-theoretic tools that are applicable to computer systems, the loss in system performance due to the conflicts of interest of users and administrators, and the design of systems whose performance is robust with respect to conflicts of interest inside the system. Algorithmic focus is on algorithms for equilibria, the complexity of equilibria and fixed points, algorithmic tools in mechanism design, learning in games, and the price of anarchy.
K. Daskalakis

6.5350 Matrix Multiplication and Graph Algorithms
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1220
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (45-102)
______
Explores topics around matrix multiplication (MM) and its use in the design of graph algorithms. Focuses on problems such as transitive closure, shortest paths, graph matching, and other classical graph problems. Explores fast approximation algorithms when MM techniques are too expensive.
V. Vassilevska Williams
No textbook information available

6.5400[J] Theory of Computation
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 18.4041[J])
(Subject meets with 18.404)
Prereq: 6.1200 or 18.200
Units: 4-0-8
______
A more extensive and theoretical treatment of the material in 6.1400J/18.400J, emphasizing computability and computational complexity theory. Regular and context-free languages. Decidable and undecidable problems, reducibility, recursive function theory. Time and space measures on computation, completeness, hierarchy theorems, inherently complex problems, oracles, probabilistic computation, and interactive proof systems. Students in Course 18 must register for the undergraduate version, 18.404.
M. Sipser

6.5410[J] Advanced Complexity Theory
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 18.405[J])
Prereq: 18.404
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (4-163)
______
Current research topics in computational complexity theory. Nondeterministic, alternating, probabilistic, and parallel computation models. Boolean circuits. Complexity classes and complete sets. The polynomial-time hierarchy. Interactive proof systems. Relativization. Definitions of randomness. Pseudo-randomness and derandomizations. Interactive proof systems and probabilistically checkable proofs.
D. Minzer
No textbook information available

6.5420 Randomness and Computation
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1220 and 18.4041
Units: 3-0-9
______
The power and sources of randomness in computation. Connections and applications to computational complexity, computational learning theory, cryptography and combinatorics. Topics include: probabilistic proofs, uniform generation and approximate counting, Fourier analysis of Boolean functions, computational learning theory, expander graphs, pseudorandom generators, derandomization.
R. Rubinfeld

6.5430 Quantum Complexity Theory
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1400, 18.4041, and 18.435
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to quantum computational complexity theory, the study of the fundamental capabilities and limitations of quantum computers. Topics include complexity classes, lower bounds, communication complexity, proofs and advice, and interactive proof systems in the quantum world; classical simulation of quantum circuits. The objective is to bring students to the research frontier.
Staff

Security & Cryptography

6.1600 Foundations of Computer Security
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: (6.1210 and (6.1800 or 6.1810)) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Fundamental notions and big ideas for achieving security in computer systems. Topics include cryptographic foundations (pseudorandomness, collision-resistant hash functions, authentication codes, signatures, authenticated encryption, public-key encryption), systems ideas (isolation, non-interference, authentication, access control, delegation, trust), and implementation techniques (privilege separation, fuzzing, symbolic execution, runtime defenses, side-channel attacks). Case studies of how these ideas are realized in deployed systems. Lab assignments apply ideas from lectures to learn how to build secure systems and how they can be attacked.
S. Devadas

6.5610 Applied Cryptography
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1200 and (6.1800 or 6.1810)
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (6-120) Recitation: F11 (1-190)
______
Covers advanced applications of cryptography, implementation of cryptographic primitives, and cryptanalysis. Topics may include: proof systems; zero knowledge; secret sharing; multiparty computation; fully homomorphic encryption; electronic voting; design of block ciphers and hash functions; elliptic-curve and lattice-based cryptosystems; and algorithms for collision-finding, discrete-log, and factoring. Assignments include a final group project. Topics may vary from year to year.
Y. Kalai
No textbook information available

6.5620[J] Foundations of Cryptography
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 18.425[J])
Prereq: 6.1220, 6.1400, or 18.4041
Units: 3-0-9
______
A rigorous introduction to modern cryptography. Emphasis on the fundamental cryptographic primitives such as public-key encryption, digital signatures, and pseudo-random number generation, as well as advanced cryptographic primitives such as zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption, and secure multiparty computation.
Staff

6.5630 Advanced Topics in Cryptography
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 6.5620
Units: 3-0-9
______
In-depth exploration of recent results in cryptography.
V. Vaikuntanathan

6.5660 Computer Systems Security
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1020 and (6.1800 or 6.1810)
Units: 3-6-3
______
Design and implementation of secure computer systems. Lectures cover attacks that compromise security as well as techniques for achieving security, based on recent research papers. Topics include operating system security, privilege separation, capabilities, language-based security, cryptographic network protocols, trusted hardware, and security in web applications and mobile phones. Labs involve implementing and compromising a web application that sandboxes arbitrary code, and a group final project.
Staff

Computer Systems

6.1800 Computer Systems Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1910
Units: 5-1-6
URL: https://mit.edu/6.1800
Lecture: MW2 (26-100) Lab: F1 (36-144) or F2 (36-144) or F1 (26-142) or F2 (26-142) or F1 (26-210) or F2 (26-210) or F1 (26-314) or F2 (26-314) or F1 (4-149) or F2 (4-149) or F1 (4-261) or F2 (4-261) or F1 (4-145) or F2 (4-145) or F1 (24-307) or F2 (24-307) Recitation: TR10 (34-301, 36-153, 36-156) or TR11 (34-301, 36-153, 36-156, 34-303) or TR12 (34-303, 36-155) or TR1 (34-302, 35-310, 36-155, 24-307) or TR2 (34-302, 35-308, 24-307) +final
______
Topics on the engineering of computer software and hardware systems: techniques for controlling complexity; strong modularity using client-server design, operating systems; performance, networks; naming; security and privacy; fault-tolerant systems, atomicity and coordination of concurrent activities, and recovery; impact of computer systems on society. Case studies of working systems and readings from the current literature provide comparisons and contrasts. Includes a single, semester-long design project. Students engage in extensive written communication exercises. Enrollment may be limited.
K. LaCurts
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

6.1810 Operating System Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 6.1910
Units: 3-0-9
______
Design and implementation of operating systems, and their use as a foundation for systems programming. Topics include virtual memory, file systems, threads, context switches, kernels, interrupts, system calls, interprocess communication, coordination, and interaction between software and hardware. A multi-processor operating system for RISC-V, xv6, is used to illustrate these topics. Individual laboratory assignments involve extending the xv6 operating system, for example to support sophisticated virtual memory features and networking.
M. Kaashoek

6.1820[J] Mobile and Sensor Computing
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as MAS.453[J])
Prereq: 6.1800 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (24-121)
______
Focuses on "Internet of Things" (IoT) systems and technologies, sensing, computing, and communication. Explores fundamental design and implementation issues in the engineering of mobile and sensor computing systems. Topics include battery-free sensors, seeing through wall, robotic sensors, vital sign sensors (breathing, heartbeats, emotions), sensing in cars and autonomous vehicles, subsea IoT, sensor security, positioning technologies (including GPS and indoor WiFi), inertial sensing (accelerometers, gyroscopes, inertial measurement units, dead-reckoning), embedded and distributed system architectures, sensing with radio signals, sensing with microphones and cameras, wireless sensor networks, embedded and distributed system architectures, mobile libraries and APIs to sensors, and application case studies. Includes readings from research literature, as well as laboratory assignments and a significant term project.
F. Adib
No textbook information available

6.1850 Computer Systems and Society
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 6.1800
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the impact of computer systems on individual humans, society, and the environment. Examines large- and small-scale power structures that stem from low-level technical design decisions, the consequences of those structures on society, and how they can limit or provide access to certain technologies. Students learn to assess design decisions within an ethical framework and consider the impact of their decisions on non-users. Case studies of working systems and readings from the current literature provide comparisons and contrasts. Possible topics include the implications of hierarchical designs (e.g., DNS) for scale; how layered models influence what parts of a network have the power to take certain actions; and the environmental impact of proof-of-work-based systems such as Bitcoin. Enrollment may be limited.
K. Lacurts

6.5810 Operating System Engineering
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 6.1020 and (6.1800 or 6.1810)
Units: 3-6-3
______
Fundamental design and implementation issues in the engineering of operating systems. Lectures based on the study of a symmetric multiprocessor version of UNIX version 6 and research papers. Topics include virtual memory; file system; threads; context switches; kernels; interrupts; system calls; interprocess communication; coordination, and interaction between software and hardware. Individual laboratory assignments accumulate in the construction of a minimal operating system (for an x86-based personal computer) that implements the basic operating system abstractions and a shell. Knowledge of programming in the C language is a prerequisite.
Staff

6.5820 Computer Networks
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 6.1800 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Topics on the engineering and analysis of network protocols and architecture, including architectural principles for designing heterogeneous networks; transport protocols; Internet routing; router design; congestion control and network resource management; wireless networks; network security; naming; overlay and peer-to-peer networks. Readings from original research papers. Semester-long project and paper.
H. Balakrishnan

6.5830 Database Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 6.5831)
Prereq: ((6.1210 or 6.1220) and (6.1800 or 6.1810)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Topics related to the engineering and design of database systems, including data models; database and schema design; schema normalization and integrity constraints; query processing; query optimization and cost estimation; transactions; recovery; concurrency control; isolation and consistency; distributed, parallel and heterogeneous databases; adaptive databases; trigger systems; pub-sub systems; semi structured data and XML querying. Lecture and readings from original research papers. Semester-long project and paper. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Enrollment may be limited.
S. R. Madden

6.5831 Database Systems
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 6.5830)
Prereq: ((6.1210 or 6.1220) and (6.1800 or 6.1810)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Topics related to the engineering and design of database systems, including data models; database and schema design; schema normalization and integrity constraints; query processing; query optimization and cost estimation; transactions; recovery; concurrency control; isolation and consistency; distributed, parallel and heterogeneous databases; adaptive databases; trigger systems; pub-sub systems; semi structured data and XML querying. Lecture and readings from original research papers. Semester-long project and paper. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Enrollment may be limited.
S. R. Madden

6.5840 Distributed Computer Systems Engineering
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1800, 6.1810, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (54-100) +final
______
Abstractions and implementation techniques for engineering distributed systems: remote procedure call, threads and locking, client/server, peer-to-peer, consistency, fault tolerance, and security. Readings from current literature. Individual laboratory assignments culminate in the construction of a fault-tolerant and scalable network file system. Programming experience with C/C++ required. Enrollment limited.
R. Morris
No textbook information available

6.5850 Principles of Computer Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to the basic principles of computer systems with emphasis on the use of rigorous techniques as an aid to understanding and building modern computing systems. Particular attention paid to concurrent and distributed systems. Topics include: specification and verification, concurrent algorithms, synchronization, naming, Networking, replication techniques (including distributed cache management), and principles and algorithms for achieving reliability.
M. F. Kaashoek, B. Lampson, N. B. Zeldovich

Computer Architecture

6.1903 Introduction to Low-level Programming in C and Assembly
______

Undergrad (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: 6.100A
Units: 2-2-2
Credit cannot also be received for 6.1904
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: M9.30-11 (32-123) Lab: W9.30-12 (38-530) or W12-2.30 (38-530) or W2.30-5 (38-530) Recitation: T9.30-11 (45-230) or T11-12.30 (45-230) or T1-2.30 (45-230) or T2.30-4 (2-190) or T9.30-11 (32-144) or T11-12.30 (32-141) or T1-2.30 (32-155) or T2.30-4 (36-155)
______
Introduction to C and assembly language for students coming from a Python background (6.100A). Studies the C language, focusing on memory and associated topics including pointers, how different data structures are stored in memory, the stack, and the heap in order to build a strong understanding of the constraints involved in manipulating complex data structures in modern computational systems. Studies assembly language to facilitate a firm understanding of how high-level languages are translated to machine-level instructions.
J. D. Steinmeyer, S. Z. Hanono Wachman
No textbook information available

6.1904 Introduction to Low-level Programming in C and Assembly
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 6.100A
Units: 2-2-2
Credit cannot also be received for 6.1903
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: M9.30-11 (32-123) Lab: W9.30-12 (38-530) or W12-2.30 (38-530) or W2.30-5 (38-530) Recitation: T9.30-11 (45-230) or T11-12.30 (45-230) or T1-2.30 (45-230) or T2.30-4 (2-190) or T9.30-11 (32-144) or T11-12.30 (32-141) or T1-2.30 (32-155) or T2.30-4 (36-155)
______
Introduction to C and assembly language for students coming from a Python background (6.100A). Studies the C language, focusing on memory and associated topics including pointers, how different data structures are stored in memory, the stack, and the heap in order to build a strong understanding of the constraints involved in manipulating complex data structures in modern computational systems. Studies assembly language to facilitate a firm understanding of how high-level languages are translated to machine-level instructions.
J. D. Steinmeyer, S. Z. Hanono Wachman
No textbook information available

6.1910 Computation Structures
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Physics II (GIR), 6.100A, and (Coreq: 6.1903 or 6.1904); or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR1 (32-123) Recitation: WF10 (34-302) or WF11 (34-302) or WF12 (34-302) or WF1 (34-302) or WF2 (34-302) or WF3 (34-302) or WF10 (35-308) or WF11 (35-308) or WF12 (35-308) or WF1 (35-308) or WF2 (8-205) or WF3 (8-205)
______
Provides an introduction to the design of digital systems and computer architecture. Emphasizes expressing all hardware designs in a high-level hardware description language and synthesizing the designs. Topics include combinational and sequential circuits, instruction set abstraction for programmable hardware, single-cycle and pipelined processor implementations, multi-level memory hierarchies, virtual memory, exceptions and I/O, and parallel systems.
Fall: S. Hanono Wachman
Spring: S. Hanono Wachman
No textbook information available

6.1920 Constructive Computer Architecture
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 6.1910
Units: 3-8-1
______
Illustrates a constructive (as opposed to a descriptive) approach to computer architecture. Topics include combinational and pipelined arithmetic-logic units (ALU), in-order pipelined microarchitectures, branch prediction, blocking and unblocking caches, interrupts, virtual memory support, cache coherence and multicore architectures. Labs in a modern Hardware Design Language (HDL) illustrate various aspects of microprocessor design, culminating in a term project in which students present a multicore design running on an FPGA board.
Staff

6.5900 Computer System Architecture
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 6.1910
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to the principles underlying modern computer architecture. Emphasizes the relationship among technology, hardware organization, and programming systems in the evolution of computer architecture. Topics include pipelined, out-of-order, and speculative execution; caches, virtual memory and exception handling, superscalar, very long instruction word (VLIW), vector, and multithreaded processors; on-chip networks, memory models, synchronization, and cache coherence protocols for multiprocessors.
J. Emer

6.5910 Complex Digital Systems Design
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 6.1910
Units: 5-5-2
______
Introduction to the design and implementation of large-scale digital systems using hardware description languages and high-level synthesis tools in conjunction with standard commercial electronic design automation (EDA) tools. Emphasizes modular and robust designs, reusable modules, correctness by construction, architectural exploration, meeting area and timing constraints, and developing functional field-programmable gate array (FPGA) prototypes. Extensive use of CAD tools in weekly labs serve as preparation for a multi-person design project on multi-million gate FPGAs. Enrollment may be limited.
Staff

6.5920 Parallel Computing
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 6.1910 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to parallel and multicore computer architecture and programming. Topics include the design and implementation of multicore processors; networking, video, continuum, particle and graph applications for multicores; communication and synchronization algorithms and mechanisms; locality in parallel computations; computational models, including shared memory, streams, message passing, and data parallel; multicore mechanisms for synchronization, cache coherence, and multithreading. Performance evaluation of multicores; compilation and runtime systems for parallel computing. Substantial project required.
Staff

6.5930 Hardware Architecture for Deep Learning
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 6.5931)
Prereq: 6.1910 and (6.3000 or 6.3900)
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (54-100) Lab: TBA Recitation: F11 (32-155)
______
Introduction to the design and implementation of hardware architectures for efficient processing of deep learning algorithms and tensor algebra in AI systems. Topics include basics of deep learning, optimization principles for programmable platforms, design principles of accelerator architectures, co-optimization of algorithms and hardware (including sparsity) and use of advanced technologies (including memristors and optical computing). Includes labs involving modeling and analysis of hardware architectures, architecting deep learning inference systems, and an open-ended design project. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
V. Sze, J. Emer
No textbook information available

6.5931 Hardware Architecture for Deep Learning
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 6.5930)
Prereq: 6.1910 and (6.3000 or 6.3900)
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (54-100) Lab: TBA Recitation: F11 (32-155)
______
Introduction to the design and implementation of hardware architectures for efficient processing of deep learning algorithms and tensor algebra in AI systems. Topics include basics of deep learning, optimization principles for programmable platforms, design principles of accelerator architectures, co-optimization of algorithms and hardware (including sparsity) and use of advanced technologies (including memristors and optical computing). Includes labs involving modeling and analysis of hardware architectures, architecting deep learning inference systems, and an open-ended design project. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
V. Sze, J. Emer
No textbook information available

6.5940 TinyML and Efficient Deep Learning Computing
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 6.1910 and 6.3900
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces efficient deep learning computing techniques that enable powerful deep learning applications on resource-constrained devices. Topics include model compression, pruning, quantization, neural architecture search, distributed training, data/model parallellism, gradient compression, on-device fine-tuning. It also introduces application-specific acceleration techniques for video recognition, point cloud, and generative AI (diffusion model, LLM). Students will get hands-on experience accelerating deep learning applications with an open-ended design project.
S. Han

6.5950 Secure Hardware Design
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 6.5951)
Prereq: 6.1910
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://shd.mit.edu/
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (E25-111)
______
Introduction to basic concepts, principles, and implementation issues in the designing of secure hardware systems. Through a mixture of lectures and paper discussions, covers state-of-the-art security attacks and defenses targeting the computer architecture, digital circuits, and physics layers of computer systems. Emphasizes both the conceptual and the practical aspects of security issues in modern hardware systems. Topics include microarchitectural timing side channels, speculative execution attacks, RowHammer, Trusted Execution Environment, physical attacks, hardware support for software security, and verification of digital systems. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Yan
No textbook information available

6.5951 Secure Hardware Design
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 6.5950)
Prereq: 6.1910
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://shd.mit.edu/
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (E25-111)
______
Introduction to basic concepts, principles, and implementation issues in the designing of secure hardware systems. Through a mixture of lectures and paper discussions, covers state-of-the-art security attacks and defenses targeting the computer architecture, digital circuits, and physics layers of computer systems. Emphasizes both the conceptual and the practical aspects of security issues in modern hardware systems. Topics include microarchitectural timing side channels, speculative execution attacks, RowHammer, Trusted Execution Environment, physical attacks, hardware support for software security, and verification of digital systems. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Yan
No textbook information available


left arrow | 6.10/6.50 | 6.20/6.60 | 6.30/6.70 | 6.40/6.80 | 6.90/6.ZZ | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 7: Biology
IAP/Spring 2025


Undergraduate Subjects


Introductory Biology

All five subjects cover the same core material, comprising about 50% of the course, while the remaining material is specialized for each version as described below. Core material includes fundamental principles of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology. These topics address structure and regulation of genes, structure and synthesis of proteins, how these molecules are integrated into cells and how cells communicate with one another.

7.012 Introductory Biology
______

Undergrad (Fall) Biology
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 7.013, 7.014, 7.015, 7.016, ES.7012, ES.7013
______
Exploration into biochemistry and structural biology, molecular and cell biology, genetics and immunology, and viruses and bacteria. Special topics can include cancer biology, aging, and the human microbiome project. Enrollment limited to seating capacity of classroom. Admittance may be controlled by lottery.
O. Corradin, E. Lander

7.013 Introductory Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) Biology
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 7.012, 7.014, 7.015, 7.016, ES.7012, ES.7013
URL: https://biology.mit.edu/undergraduate/course-requirements/general-institute-requirement/
______
Genomic approaches to human biology, including neuroscience, development, immunology, tissue repair and stem cells, tissue engineering, and infectious and inherited diseases, including cancer. Enrollment limited to seating capacity of classroom. Admittance may be controlled by lottery.
Staff

7.014 Introductory Biology
______

Undergrad (Spring) Biology
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 7.012, 7.013, 7.015, 7.016, ES.7012, ES.7013
Lecture: MWF11 (54-100) Recitation: TR9 (26-204) or TR10 (26-204, VIRTUAL) or TR11 (26-204) or TR12 (26-204) or TR1 (26-204) or TR2 (26-204) or TR3 (26-204) +final
______
Studies the fundamental principles of biology and their application towards understanding the Earth as a dynamic system shaped by life. Focuses on environmental life science with an emphasis on biogeochemistry, population genetics, population and community ecology, evolution, and the impact of climate change. Enrollment limited to seating capacity of classroom. Admittance may be controlled by lottery.
G. C. Walker, D. Des Marais
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

7.015 Introductory Biology
______

Undergrad (Fall) Biology
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 7.012, 7.013, 7.014, 7.016, ES.7012, ES.7013
______
Emphasizes the application of fundamental biological principles to modern, trending topics in biology. Specific modules focus on antibiotic resistance, biotechnology (e.g., genetically-modified organisms and CRISPR-based genome editing), personal genetics and genomics, viruses and vaccines, ancient DNA, and the metabolism of drugs. Includes discussion of the social and ethical issues surrounding modern biology. Limited to 60; admittance may be controlled by lottery.
M. Laub, S. Vos

7.016 Introductory Biology
______

Undergrad (Spring) Biology
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 7.012, 7.013, 7.014, 7.015, ES.7012, ES.7013
Lecture: MWF10 (54-100) Recitation: TR9 (35-308) or TR10 (35-308, 8-205, 26-210) or TR11 (VIRTUAL) or TR12 (26-210) or TR1 (26-210) or TR2 (26-210) or TR3 (26-210) +final
______
Introduction to fundamental principles of biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics for understanding the functions of living systems. Covers examples of the use of chemical biology, the use of genetics in biological discovery, principles of cellular organization and communication, immunology, cancer, and engineering biological systems. In addition, includes 21st-century molecular genetics in understanding human health and therapeutic intervention. Enrollment limited to seating capacity of classroom. Admittance may be controlled by lottery.
S. Hrvatin, A. Martin
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

7.00 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 and the Pandemic
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Lectures by leading experts on the fundamentals of COVID-19 epidemiology, coronavirus and host cell biology, immunity, vaccine development, clinical disease and therapy. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students.
R. Young, F. Batista

7.002 Fundamentals of Experimental Molecular Biology
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Partial Lab
Prereq: None
Units: 1-4-1
Lecture: M1-2.30 (32-141) Lab: W1-4.30 (68-074) or F1-4.30 (68-074)
______
Introduces the experimental concepts and methods of molecular biology. Covers basic principles of experimental design and data analysis, with an emphasis on the acquisition of practical laboratory experience. Satisfies 6 units of Institute Laboratory credit. Satisfies biology laboratory credit for pre-health professions. Enrollment limited.
Fall: T. Baker, T. Schwartz
Spring: T. Schwartz
No required or recommended textbooks

7.003[J] Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Partial Lab
(Same subject as 10.7003[J])
Prereq: 7.002
Units: 2-7-3
Lecture: T1 (68-181) Lab: T2-5,R1-5 (68-074) Recitation: T11-12.30 (68-121)
______
Laboratory-based exploration of modern experimental molecular biology. Specific experimental system studied may vary from term to term, depending on instructor. Emphasizes concepts of experimental design, data analysis and communication in biology and how these concepts are applied in the biotechnology industry. Satisfies 6 units of Institute Laboratory credit. Enrollment limited; admittance may be controlled by lottery.
Fall: E. Calo, K. Knouse
Spring: L. Case, H. Moura Silva, H. Sikes
No required or recommended textbooks

7.03 Genetics
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Biology (GIR)
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MWF11 (E25-111) Recitation: M1 (38-166) or T10 (38-166) or T11 (38-166) +final
______
The principles of genetics with application to the study of biological function at the level of molecules, cells, and multicellular organisms, including humans. Structure and function of genes, chromosomes, and genomes. Biological variation resulting from recombination, mutation, and selection. Population genetics. Use of genetic methods to analyze protein function, gene regulation, and inherited disease.
Fall: M. Gehring, P. Reddien
Spring: O. Corradin, F. Sanchez-Rivera
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

7.05 General Biochemistry
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: (Biology (GIR) and 5.12) or permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 5.07, 20.507
Lecture: MWF9.30-11 (10-250) Recitation: F1 (24-112) or M2 (26-210) or W11 (36-112) or F12 (26-210) or F11 (26-210) or T11 (24-112) or T EVE (7.30 PM) (26-204) or R10 (66-160) or T3 (26-322) or R12 (26-142) +final
______
Contributions of biochemistry toward an understanding of the structure and functioning of organisms, tissues, and cells. Chemistry and functions of constituents of cells and tissues and the chemical and physical-chemical basis for the structures of nucleic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates. Basic enzymology and biochemical reaction mechanisms involved in macromolecular synthesis and degradation, signaling, transport, and movement. General metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and nitrogen-containing materials such as amino acids, proteins, and related compounds.
A. Ringel, M. Vander Heiden, M. Yaffe
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

7.06 Cell Biology
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: 7.03 and 7.05
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (4-370) Recitation: F10 (26-204) or F11 (26-204) or F12 (26-204) or F1 (26-204) +final
______
Presents the biology of cells of higher organisms. Studies the structure, function, and biosynthesis of cellular membranes and organelles; cell growth and oncogenic transformation; transport, receptors, and cell signaling; the cytoskeleton, the extracellular matrix, and cell movements; cell division and cell cycle; functions of specialized cell types. Emphasizes the current molecular knowledge of cell biological processes as well as the genetic, biochemical, and other experimental approaches that resulted in these discoveries.
Fall: P. Li, S. Lourido
Spring: K. Knouse, R. Lamason
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

7.08[J] Fundamentals of Chemical Biology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 5.08[J])
(Subject meets with 7.80)
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), 5.13, and (5.07 or 7.05)) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (56-114) Recitation: W3 (26-142) or W4 (26-142) or R3 (8-205) or R4 (8-205)
______
Spanning the fields of biology, chemistry, and engineering, this class introduces students to the principles of chemical biology and the application of chemical and physical methods and reagents to the study and manipulation of biological systems. Topics include nucleic acid structure, recognition, and manipulation; protein folding and stability, and proteostasis; bioorthogonal reactions and activity-based protein profiling; chemical genetics and small-molecule inhibitor screening; fluorescent probes for biological analysis and imaging; and unnatural amino acid mutagenesis. The class will also discuss the logic of dynamic post-translational modification reactions with an emphasis on chemical biology approaches for studying complex processes including glycosylation, phosphorylation, and lipidation. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
B. Imperiali, M. Shoulders
No required or recommended textbooks

7.093 Modern Biostatistics
______

Undergrad (Spring); first half of term
(Subject meets with 7.573)
Prereq: 7.03 and 7.05
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: MW1-2.30 (4-370) Recitation: M4 (56-154) or F9 (56-114)
______
Provides a practical introduction to probability and statistics used in modern biology. Topics covered include discrete and continuous probability distributions, statistical modeling, hypothesis testing, independence, conditional probability, multiple test corrections, nonparametric methods, clustering, correlation, linear regression, principal components analysis with applications to high-throughput DNA sequencing, and image data analysis. Homework is in the R programming language, but prior programming experience is not required. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
A. Jain, H. Wong
No textbook information available

7.094 Modern Computational Biology
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
(Subject meets with 7.574)
Prereq: 7.03 and 7.05
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW1-2.30 (4-370) Recitation: R9 (4-145) or F9 (56-114)
______
Introduces modern methods in computational biology, focusing on DNA/RNA/protein analysis. Topics include next-generation DNA sequencing and sequencing data analysis, RNA-seq (bulk and single-cell), and protein dynamics. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
A. Jain, H. Wong
No textbook information available

7.102 Introduction to Molecular Biology Techniques
______

Undergrad (IAP) Partial Lab
Prereq: None
Units: 0-5-1
URL: IAP URL: https://biology.mit.edu/undergraduate/current-students/subject-offerings/independent-activities-period/
______
Designed primarily for first-year students with little or no lab experience. Introduces basic methods of experimental molecular biology. Specific experiments vary from year-to-year, but will focus on the identification and characterization of bacteria and bacteriophages from the wild using an array of basic methods in molecular biology and microbiology. Biology GIR or Chemistry GIR recommended. Satisfies 6 units of Institute Laboratory credit. Limited to 16; admittance may be controlled by lottery.
A. Martin
No textbook information available

7.105 Ethics for Biologists and Engineers
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Credit cannot also be received for 1.082, 2.900, 6.9320, 10.01, 16.676, 20.005
Lecture: T3-5 (66-148)
______
Explores how to apply an ethical framework to working with living systems. Students examine case studies related to biological research and bioengineering alongside readings by foundational ethical thinkers from Aristotle to Martin Luther King, Jr. Topics for consideration include justice, rights, research integrity and bias, human clinical trials, genetic engineering in human diseases and aging, creating human-animal hybrids, and the promise and peril of AI. Discussion-based, with the aim of introducing students to new ways of thinking. Meets with 20.005, a 9-unit version of this subject, which includes a final project.
L. Guarente, P. Hansen
No textbook information available

7.11 Biology Teaching
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
For qualified undergraduate students interested in gaining some experience in teaching. Laboratory, tutorial, or classroom teaching under the supervision of a faculty member. Students selected by interview.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

7.19 Communication in Experimental Biology
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: (7.06 and (5.362, 7.003, or 20.109)) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-4-4
Lecture: TR2-4 (68-121)
______
Students carry out independent literature research. Journal club discussions are used to help students evaluate and write scientific papers. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication is provided. 
Fall: F. Batista, D. Housman
Spring: C. Kaiser
No required or recommended textbooks

7.20[J] Human Physiology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as HST.540[J])
Prereq: 7.05
Units: 5-0-7
______
Comprehensive exploration of human physiology, emphasizing the molecular basis and applied aspects of organ function and regulation in health and disease. Includes a review of cell structure and function, as well as the mechanisms by which the endocrine and nervous systems integrate cellular metabolism. Special emphasis on examining the cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and renal systems, as well as liver function, drug metabolism, and pharmacogenetics.
M. Krieger, O. Yilmaz

7.21 Microbial Physiology
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 7.62)
Prereq: 7.03 and 7.05
Units: 4-0-8
______
Biochemical properties of bacteria and other microorganisms that enable them to grow under a variety of conditions. Interaction between bacteria and bacteriophages. Genetic and metabolic regulation of enzyme action and enzyme formation. Structure and function of components of the bacterial cell envelope. Protein secretion with a special emphasis on its various roles in pathogenesis. Additional topics include bioenergetics, symbiosis, quorum sensing, global responses to DNA damage, and biofilms. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
G. C. Walker, A. J. Sinskey

7.23[J] Immunology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 20.230[J])
(Subject meets with 7.63[J], 20.630[J])
Prereq: 7.06
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (4-370) Recitation: W12 (56-167) or W EVE (7 PM) (66-168) or R4 (66-160) or T4 (66-160)
______
Comprehensive survey of molecular, genetic, and cellular aspects of the immune system. Topics include innate and adaptive immunity; cells and organs of the immune system; hematopoiesis; immunoglobulin, T cell receptor, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins and genes; development and functions of B and T lymphocytes; immune responses to infections and tumors; hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, and immunodeficiencies. Particular attention to the development and function of the immune system as a whole, as studied by modern methods and techniques. Students taking graduate version explore the subject in greater depth, including study of recent primary literature.
S.Spranger, M. Birnbaum
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

7.24 Advanced Concepts in Immunology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 7.84)
Prereq: 7.23
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: F9-11 (76-259) Recitation: TBA
______
Provides a comprehensive and intensified understanding of the relevance of the immune system beyond immunity. Focuses on how the immune system intersects with all aspects of body homeostasis/physiology or disease and how the immune system can be manipulated therapeutically. New advances in the intersection of immunology with cancer biology, neurosciences, metabolism, aging, and maternal-fetal immunology or similar explored. Presents new modern methods and techniques applicable beyond immunology. Includes critical analysis and discussion of assigned readings. Students apply principles learned in class to generate a potential research project, presented in a written form. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
H. Moura Silva, S. Spranger
No required or recommended textbooks

7.26 Molecular Basis of Infectious Disease
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 7.66)
Prereq: 7.06
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (E25-111) Recitation: F10 (4-149) or F11 (4-149) +final
______
Focuses on the principles of host-pathogen interactions with an emphasis on infectious diseases of humans. Presents key concepts of pathogenesis through the study of various human pathogens. Includes critical analysis and discussion of assigned readings. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
E. Chen, R. Lamason
No required or recommended textbooks

7.27 Principles of Human Disease and Aging
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 7.06
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (56-180)
______
Covers modern approaches to human diseases and aging, emphasizing the molecular and cellular basis of genetic diseases, infectious diseases, aging, and cancer. Topics include the genetics of simple and complex traits; karyotypic analysis and positional cloning; genetic diagnosis; evolutionary determination of aging, genetic and molecular aspects of aging, HIV/AIDs and other infectious diseases; the roles of oncogenes and tumor suppressors; the interaction between genetics and environment; animal models of human disease, cancer, and aging; and treatment strategies for diseases and aging. Includes a paper describing novel treatment options for a specific disease chosen by each student.
D. Housman, Y. Soto-Feliciano
No required or recommended textbooks

7.28 Molecular Biology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 7.58)
Prereq: 7.03; Coreq: 7.05
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: TR11-1 (4-270) Recitation: W12 (66-154) or W EVE (7 PM) (66-154) +final
______
Detailed analysis of the biochemical mechanisms that control the maintenance, expression, and evolution of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. Topics covered in lecture and readings of relevant literature include: gene regulation, DNA replication, genetic recombination, and mRNA translation. Logic of experimental design and data analysis emphasized. Presentations include both lectures and group discussions of representative papers from the literature. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
E. Calo, Y. Soto-Feliciano
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

7.29[J] Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 9.09[J])
Prereq: 7.05 or 9.01
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (46-3310) Recitation: F12 (46-3310) +final
______
Introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system. Emphasizes the cellular properties of neurons and other excitable cells. Includes the structure and biophysical properties of excitable cells, synaptic transmission, neurochemistry, neurodevelopment, integration of information in simple systems, and detection and information coding during sensory transduction.
T. Littleton, S. Prescott
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

7.30[J] Fundamentals of Ecology
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 1.018[J], 12.031[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Fundamentals of ecology, considering Earth as an integrated dynamic living system. Coevolution of the biosphere and geosphere, biogeochemical cycles, metabolic diversity, primary productivity, competition and the niche, trophic dynamics and food webs, population growth and limiting factors. Population modeling, global carbon cycle, climate change, geoengineering, theories of resource competition and mutualism, allometric scaling, ecological genomics, niche theory, human population growth. Applied ecology.
O. Cordero, D. McRose, C. Terrer

7.31 Current Topics in Mammalian Biology: Medical Implications
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 7.06 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Covers recent advances in mammalian cell and developmental biology with particular emphasis on approaches that utilize mouse genetics. Combines formal lectures on selected topics with readings of original papers which are discussed in class. Major emphasis on the implications of mechanisms of human genetic diseases. Topics include early mammalian development; genomic imprinting; X inactivation; embryonic stem cells; nuclear reprogramming of somatic cells; cell migration; nervous system development; and central nervous system degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease. Limited to 20.
F. Gertler, R. Jaenisch

7.32 Systems Biology
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 7.81[J], 8.591[J])
Prereq: (18.03 and 18.05) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to cellular and population-level systems biology with an emphasis on synthetic biology, modeling of genetic networks, cell-cell interactions, and evolutionary dynamics. Cellular systems include genetic switches and oscillators, network motifs, genetic network evolution, and cellular decision-making. Population-level systems include models of pattern formation, cell-cell communications, and evolutionary systems biology. Students taking graduate version explore the subject in more depth.
J. Gore

7.33[J] Evolutionary Biology: Concepts, Models and Computation
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.4710[J])
Prereq: (6.100A and 7.03) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores and illustrates how evolution explains biology, with an emphasis on computational model building for analyzing evolutionary data. Covers key concepts of biological evolution, including adaptive evolution, neutral evolution, evolution of sex, genomic conflict, speciation, phylogeny and comparative methods, life's history, coevolution, human evolution, and evolution of disease.
R. Berwick, D. Bartel

7.340-7.344 Advanced Undergraduate Seminar
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 7.06 or 7.28
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
URL: 7.340: https://biology.mit.edu/undergraduate/current-students/subject-offerings/advanced-undergraduate-seminars/
7.340: TBA.
7.341: Lecture: T11-1 (68-150)
7.342: Lecture: W1-3 (68-150)
7.343: Lecture: R10-12 (68-150)
7.344: Lecture: T10-12 (4-144)
______
Seminars covering topics of current interest in biology with a focus on how to understand experimental methods and design and how to critically read the primary research literature. Small class size facilitates discussions and interactions with an active research scientist. Students visit research laboratories to see firsthand how biological research is conducted. Contact Biology Education Office for topics.
Fall: H. R. Horvitz
Spring: H. R. Horvitz
7.340: No textbook information available
7.341: No textbook information available
7.342: No textbook information available
7.343: No textbook information available
7.344: No textbook information available

7.345-7.349 Advanced Undergraduate Seminar
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 7.06 or 7.28
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
7.345: TBA.
7.346: TBA.
7.347: TBA.
7.348: TBA.
7.349: TBA.
______
Seminars covering topics of current interest in biology with a focus on how to understand experimental methods and design and how to critically read the primary research literature. Small class size facilitates discussions and interactions with an active research scientist. Students visit research laboratories to see firsthand how biological research is conducted. Contact Biology Education Office for topics.
Fall: H. R. Horvitz
Spring: H. R. Horvitz
7.345: No textbook information available
7.346: No textbook information available
7.347: No textbook information available
7.348: No textbook information available
7.349: No textbook information available

7.35 Human Genetics and Genomics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 7.75)
Prereq: 7.06, (7.03 and 7.05), or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: M9.30-12.30 (Whitehead-7TH)
______
Upper-level seminar offering in-depth analysis and engaged discussion of primary literature on the dimensions and phenotypic consequences of variation in human genes, chromosomes, and genomes. Topics include the human genome project; pedigree analysis; mutation and selection; linkage and association studies; medical genetics and disease; sex chromosomes and sex differences; the biology of the germ line; epigenetics, imprinting, and transgenerational inheritance; human origins; and evolutionary and population genetics. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20 total for versions meeting together.
D. Page
No required or recommended textbooks

7.36 The CRISPR Revolution: Engineering the Genome for Basic Science and Clinical Medicine
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 7.91)
Prereq: 7.06 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a conceptual and technical understanding of genome editing systems and their research and clinical applications. Focuses on fundamental CRISPR biology in bacteria, methodologies for manipulating the genome with CRISPR, and the application of genome engineering in research and medicine. Combines lectures and literature discussions with critical analysis and assigned readings, with the goal of better understanding how key discoveries were made and how these are applied in the real work. Class work includes brief writing assignments as well as a final research proposal and scientific presentation. Students taking the graduate version explore the subject in greater depth, in part through additional assignments.
F. Sánchez-Rivera, J. Weissman

7.37[J] Molecular and Engineering Aspects of Biotechnology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 10.441[J], 20.361[J])
Prereq: (7.06 and (2.005, 3.012, 5.60, or 20.110)) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 7.371
______
Covers biological and bioengineering principles underlying the development and therapeutic use of recombinant proteins and stem cells; glycoengineering of recombinant proteins; normal and pathological signaling by growth factors and their receptors; receptor trafficking; monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics; protein pharmacology and delivery; stem cell-derived tissues as therapeutics; RNA therapeutics; combinatorial protein engineering; and new antitumor drugs.
Staff

7.371 Biological and Engineering Principles Underlying Novel Biotherapeutics
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 7.06
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 7.37, 10.441, 20.361
______
Covers biological and bioengineering principles underlying the development and therapeutic use of recombinant proteins and immune cells. Special attention to monoclonal antibodies and engineered immune system cells as therapeutics; protein- and glyco- engineering to enhance protein function; protein pharmacology and delivery; nucleic acid- based biotherapeutics; generation of functional cells and tissues from embryonic stem cells and iPS cells; and immune cell-cancer cell interactions in cancer immunotherapy.
J. Chen, H. Lodish

7.38 Design Principles of Biological Systems
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 7.83)
Prereq: 7.06 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces students to biological control mechanisms governing decision-making and tools to decipher, model, and perturb these mechanisms. Systems presented include signal transduction, cell cycle control, developmental biology, and the immune system. These systems provide examples of feedback and feedforward control, oscillators, kinetic proofreading, spatial and temporal averaging, and pattern formation. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
D. Lew, H. Wong

7.45 The Hallmarks of Cancer
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 7.85)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 7.06
Units: 4-0-8
______
Provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of cancer biology and cancer treatment. Topics include cancer genetics, genomics, and epigenetics; familial cancer syndromes; signal transduction, cell cycle control, and apoptosis; cancer metabolism; stem cells and cancer; metastasis; cancer immunology and immunotherapy; conventional and molecularly-targeted therapies; and early detection and prevention. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Hemann, T. Jacks

7.46 Building with Cells
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 7.86)
Prereq: 7.03 and 7.05
Units: 4-0-8
______
Focuses on fundamental principles of developmental biology by which cells build organs and organisms. Analyzes the pivotal role of stem cells in tissue maintenance or repair, and in treatment of disease. Explores how to integrate this knowledge with engineering tools to construct functional tissue structures. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments
L. Boyer, P. Li

7.458[J] Advances in Biomanufacturing
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 10.03[J])
(Subject meets with 7.548[J], 10.53[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR11-12.30 (66-148)
______
Seminar examines how biopharmaceuticals, an increasingly important class of pharmaceuticals, are manufactured. Topics range from fundamental bioprocesses to new technologies to the economics of biomanufacturing. Also covers the impact of globalization on regulation and quality approaches as well as supply chain integrity. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. C. Love, A. Sinskey, S. Springs
No textbook information available

7.49[J] Developmental Neurobiology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 9.18[J])
(Subject meets with 7.69[J], 9.181[J])
Prereq: 7.03, 7.05, 9.01, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (46-3037) Recitation: T4 (46-3037)
______
Considers molecular control of neural specification, formation of neuronal connections, construction of neural systems, and the contributions of experience to shaping brain structure and function. Topics include: neural induction and pattern formation, cell lineage and fate determination, neuronal migration, axon guidance, synapse formation and stabilization, activity-dependent development and critical periods, development of behavior. Students taking graduate version complete additional readings that will be addressed in their mid-term and final exams.
E. Nedivi, S. Prescott
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

7.390 Practical Internship Experience in Biology
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 0-1-0 [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For Course 7, 5-7, and 6-7 students participating in curriculum-related off-campus internship experiences in biology. Before enrolling, students must consult the Biology Education Office for details on procedures and restrictions, and have approval from their faculty advisor. Subject to department approval.  Upon completion, the student must submit a write-up of the experience, approved by their faculty advisor.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No textbook information available

7.391 Independent Study in Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Program of study or research to be arranged with a department faculty member.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

7.392 Independent Study in Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of study or research to be arranged with a department faculty member.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

7.393 Independent Study in Genetics
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of study or research to be arranged with a department faculty member.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

7.394 Independent Study in Biochemistry
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of study or research to be arranged with a department faculty member.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

7.395 Independent Study in Cell and Molecular Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of study or research to be arranged with a department faculty member.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

7.396 Independent Study in Experimental Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Program of study or research to be arranged with a department faculty member.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

7.C01 Machine Learning in Molecular and Cellular Biology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.C01[J], 3.C51[J], 7.C51, 10.C01[J], 10.C51[J], 20.C01[J], 20.C51[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR), 6.100A, 6.C01, and 7.05
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3 (45-230)
______
Introduces machine learning as a tool to understand natural biological systems, with an evolving emphasis on problems in molecular and cellular biology that are being actively advanced using machine learning. Students design, implement, and interpret machine learning approaches to aid in predicting protein structure, probing protein structure/function relationships, and imaging biological systems at scales ranging from the atomic to cellular. Students taking graduate version complete an additional project-based assignment. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C01.
C. Coley, J. Davis, E. Fraenkel, R. Gomez-Bombarelli
No textbook information available

7.S391 Special Subject in Biology
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Covers material in various fields of biology not offered by the regular subjects of instruction.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

7.S392 Special Subject in Biology
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers material in various fields of biology not offered by the regular subjects of instruction.
Staff

7.S399 Special Subject in Biology
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Covers material in various fields of biology not offered by the regular subjects of instruction.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff

7.UR Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of department
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in the Department of Biology.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
Textbooks arranged individually

7.URG Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of department
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in the Department of Biology.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Textbooks arranged individually

Graduate Subjects

MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography

7.410 Applied Statistics
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
TBA.
______
Provides an introduction to modern applied statistics. Topics include likelihood-based methods for estimation, confidence intervals, and hypothesis-testing; bootstrapping; time series modeling; linear models; nonparametric regression; and model selection. Organized around examples drawn from the recent literature.
WHOI Staff
No textbook information available

7.411 Seminars in Biological Oceanography
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Selected topics in biological oceanography.
Fall: WHOI Staff
Spring: WHOI Staff
No textbook information available

7.421 Problems in Biological Oceanography
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Advanced problems in biological oceanography with assigned reading and consultation.
Fall: Information: M. Neubert (WHOI)
Spring: Information: M. Neubert (WHOI)
No textbook information available

7.430 Topics in Quantitative Marine Science
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Video link available. MIT campus 54-823. Lecture: W2.30-4 (WHOI CAMPUS)
______
Lectures and discussions on quantitative marine ecology. Topics vary from year to year.
Fall: M. Neubert
Spring: WHOI Staff
No textbook information available

7.431 Topics in Marine Ecology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Lectures and discussions on ecological principles and processes in marine populations, communities, and ecosystems. Topics vary from year to year.
Fall: A. Apprill
Spring: WHOI Staff

7.432 Topics in Marine Physiology and Biochemistry
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
TBA.
______
Lectures and discussions on physiological and biochemical processes in marine organisms. Topics vary from year to year.
WHOI Staff
No textbook information available

7.433 Topics in Biological Oceanography
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Video link available. MIT campus. Lecture: T1-2.30 (WHOI CAMPUS)
______
Lectures and discussions on biological oceanography. Topics vary from year to year.
WHOI Staff
No textbook information available

7.434 Topics in Zooplankton Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Lectures and discussions on the biology of marine zooplankton. Topics vary from year to year.
Fall: WHOI Staff
Spring: WHOI Staff

7.435 Topics in Benthic Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Lectures and discussions on the biology of marine benthos. Topics vary from year to year.
Fall: WHOI Staff
Spring: WHOI Staff

7.436 Topics in Phytoplankton Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Lectures and discussion on the biology of marine phytoplankton. Topics vary from year to year.
Fall: WHOI Staff
Spring: WHOI Staff

7.437 Topics in Molecular Biological Oceanography
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Lectures and discussion on molecular biological oceanography. Topics vary from year to year.
Fall: WHOI Staff
Spring: WHOI Staff

7.438 Topics in the Behavior of Marine Animals
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Lectures and discussion on the behavioral biology of marine animals. Topics vary from year to year.
Fall: WHOI Staff
Spring: WHOI Staff

7.439 Topics in Marine Microbiology
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
TBA.
______
Lectures and discussion on the biology of marine prokaryotes. Topics vary from year to year.
WHOI Staff
No textbook information available

7.440 An Introduction to Mathematical Ecology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR), 1.018, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers the basic models of population growth, demography, population interaction (competition, predation, mutualism), food webs, harvesting, and infectious disease, and the mathematical tools required for their analysis. Because these tools are also basic to the analysis of models in biochemistry, physiology, and behavior, subject also broadly relevant to students whose interests are not limited to ecological problems.
M. Neubert

7.470 Biological Oceanography
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Video link available. MIT campus e25-605. Lecture: TR10.30-12 (WHOI CAMPUS)
______
Intended for students with advanced training in biology. Intensive overview of biological oceanography. Major paradigms discussed, and dependence of biological processes in the ocean on physical and chemical aspects of the environment examined. Surveys the diversity of marine habitats, major groups of taxa inhabiting those habitats, and the general biology of the various taxa: the production and consumption of organic material in the ocean, as well as factors controlling those processes. Species diversity, structure of marine food webs, and the flow of energy within different marine habitats are detailed and contrasted.
M. Pachiadaki, J. Pineda
No textbook information available

7.491 Research in Biological Oceanography
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Directed research in biological oceanography not leading to graduate thesis and initiated prior to the qualifying exam.
Fall: WHOI Staff
Spring: WHOI Staff
Summer: WHOI Staff
No textbook information available

Microbiology (MICRO)

7.492[J] Methods and Problems in Microbiology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.86[J], 20.445[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Students will read and discuss primary literature covering key areas of microbial research with emphasis on methods and approaches used to understand and manipulate microbes. Preference to first-year Microbiology and Biology students.
M. Laub, Staff

7.493[J] Microbial Genetics and Evolution
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.87[J], 12.493[J], 20.446[J])
Prereq: 7.03, 7.05, or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Covers aspects of microbial genetic and genomic analyses, central dogma, horizontal gene transfer, and evolution.
A. Grossman, O. Cordero

7.494 Research Problems in Microbiology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Directed research in the fields of microbial science and engineering.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

7.498 Teaching Experience in Microbiology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For qualified graduate students in the Microbiology graduate program interested in teaching. Classroom or laboratory teaching under the supervision of a faculty member.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

7.499 Research Rotations in Microbiology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None. Coreq: 7.492 or 7.493; permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Introduces students to faculty participating in the interdepartmental Microbiology graduate program through a series of three lab rotations, which provide broad exposure to microbiology research at MIT. Students select a lab for thesis research by the end of their first year. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the program and the many research programs available, students may be able to work jointly with more than one research advisor. Limited to students in the Microbiology graduate program.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

7.MTHG Microbiology Graduate Thesis
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research leading to the writing of a PhD thesis. To be arranged by the student and the appropriate MIT faculty member.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

Biology

7.50 Method and Logic in Molecular Biology
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 7.51 and 7.52; or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Logic, experimental design and methods in biology, using discussions of the primary literature to discern the principles of biological investigation in making discoveries and testing hypotheses. In collaboration with faculty, students also apply those principles to generate a potential research project, presented in both written and oral form. Limited to Course 7 graduate students.
I. Cheeseman, R. Lehmann, D. Lew, S. Vos, J. Weissman, Y. Yamashita

7.51 Principles of Biochemical Analysis
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 6-0-6
______
Principles of protein biochemistry, emphasizing structure, equilibrium studies, kinetics, and experimental design. Topics include macromolecular binding and specificity, allosteric systems, mechanisms of inhibition, enzyme principles, single-molecule studies, structure-function relationships, molecular evolution, and library methods. Case studies examine mechanisms of transcription factors, kinases, molecular machines, and other proteins.
L. Case, A. Keating

7.52 Genetics for Graduate Students
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Principles and approaches of genetic analysis, including Mendelian inheritance and prokaryotic genetics, yeast genetics, developmental genetics, neurogenetics, and human genetics.
C. Kaiser

7.540[J] Advances in Chemical Biology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 5.54[J], 20.554[J])
Prereq: 5.07, 5.13, 7.06, and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to current research at the interface of chemistry, biology, and bioengineering. Topics include imaging of biological processes, metabolic pathway engineering, protein engineering, mechanisms of DNA damage, RNA structure and function, macromolecular machines, protein misfolding and disease, metabolomics, and methods for analyzing signaling network dynamics. Lectures are interspersed with class discussions and student presentations based on current literature.
L. Kiessling, O. Johnson

7.546[J] Science and Business of Biotechnology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 15.480[J], 20.586[J])
Prereq: None. Coreq: 15.401; permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: R EVE (3-6 PM) (Whitehead-AUDITORIUM) Recitation: T4 (68-180) or T EVE (5 PM) (68-180)
______
Covers the new types of drugs and other therapeutics in current practice and under development, the financing and business structures of early-stage biotechnology companies, and the evaluation of their risk/reward profiles. Includes a series of live case studies with industry leaders of both established and emerging biotechnology companies as guest speakers, focusing on the underlying science and engineering as well as core financing and business issues. Students must possess a basic background in cellular and molecular biology.
J. Chen, A. Koehler, A. Lo, H. Lodish
No textbook information available

7.548[J] Advances in Biomanufacturing
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 10.53[J])
(Subject meets with 7.458[J], 10.03[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR11-12.30 (66-148)
______
Seminar examines how biopharmaceuticals, an increasingly important class of pharmaceuticals, are manufactured. Topics range from fundamental bioprocesses to new technologies to the economics of biomanufacturing. Also covers the impact of globalization on regulation and quality approaches as well as supply chain integrity. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Sinskey, S. Springs
No textbook information available

7.549[J] Case Studies and Strategies in Drug Discovery and Development
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 15.137[J], 20.486[J], HST.916[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Aims to develop appreciation for the stages of drug discovery and development, from target identification, to the submission of preclinical and clinical data to regulatory authorities for marketing approval. Following introductory lectures on the process of drug development, students working in small teams analyze how one of four new drugs or drug candidates traversed the discovery/development landscape. For each case, an outside expert from the sponsoring drug company or pivotal clinical trial principal investigator provides guidance and critiques the teams' presentations to the class.
A. W. Wood

7.55 Case Studies in Modern Experimental Design
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-7
Lecture: F11-1 (4-253)
______
Focuses on enhancing students' ability to analyze, design and present experiments, emphasizing modern techniques. Class discussions begin with papers that developed or utilized contemporary approaches (e.g., quantitative microscopy, biophysical and molecular genetic methods) to address important problems in biology. Each student prepares one specific aim of a standard research proposal for a project that emphasizes research strategy, experimental design, and writing.
L. Guarente, A. Ringel
No required or recommended textbooks

7.571 Quantitative Analysis of Biological Data
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR1-2.30 (56-114) Recitation: F3.30 (2-143) or F4.30 (2-143)
______
Application of probability theory and statistical methods to analyze biological data. Topics include: descriptive and inferential statistics, an introduction to Bayesian statistics, design of quantitative experiments, and methods to analyze high-dimensional datasets. A <em>conceptual</em> understanding of topics is emphasized, and methods are illustrated using the Python programming language. Although a basic understanding of Python is encouraged, no programming experience is required. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
J. Davis
No textbook information available

7.572 Quantitative Measurements and Modeling of Biological Systems
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR1-2.30 (56-114) Recitation: F3.30 (2-143) or F4.30 (2-143)
______
Quantitative experimental design, data analysis, and modeling for biological systems. Topics include absolute/relative quantification, noise and reproducibility, regression and correlation, and modeling of population growth, gene expression, cellular dynamics, feedback regulation, oscillation. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
G.W. Li
No textbook information available

7.573 Modern Biostatistics
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
(Subject meets with 7.093)
Prereq: 7.03 and 7.05
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: MW1-2.30 (4-370) Recitation: M4 (56-154) or F9 (56-114)
______
Provides a practical introduction to probability and statistics used in modern biology. Topics covered include discrete and continuous probability distributions, statistical modeling, hypothesis testing, independence, conditional probability, multiple test corrections, nonparametric methods, clustering, correlation, linear regression, principal components analysis with applications to high-throughput DNA sequencing and image data analysis. Homework is in the R programming language, but prior programming experience is not required. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
A. Jain, H. Wong
No textbook information available

7.574 Modern Computational Biology
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
(Subject meets with 7.094)
Prereq: 7.03 and 7.05
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW1-2.30 (4-370) Recitation: R9 (4-145) or F9 (56-114)
______
Introduces modern methods in computational biology, focusing on DNA/RNA/protein analysis. Topics include next-generation DNA sequencing and sequencing data analysis, RNA-seq (bulk and single-cell), and protein dynamics. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
A, Jain, H. Wong
No textbook information available

7.58 Molecular Biology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 7.28)
Prereq: 7.03, 7.05, and permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: TR11-1 (4-270) Recitation: W12 (66-154) or W EVE (7 PM) (66-154) +final
______
Detailed analysis of the biochemical mechanisms that control the maintenance, expression, and evolution of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. Topics covered in lecture and readings of relevant literature include: gene regulation, DNA replication, genetic recombination, and mRNA translation. Logic of experimental design and data analysis emphasized. Presentations include both lectures and group discussions of representative papers from the literature. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
E. Calo, Y. Soto-Feliciano
No textbook information available

7.59[J] Teaching College-Level Science and Engineering
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.95[J], 5.95[J], 8.395[J], 18.094[J])
(Subject meets with 2.978)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Participatory seminar focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary for teaching science and engineering in higher education. Topics include theories of adult learning; course development; promoting active learning, problemsolving, and critical thinking in students; communicating with a diverse student body; using educational technology to further learning; lecturing; creating effective tests and assignments; and assessment and evaluation. Students research and present a relevant topic of particular interest. Appropriate for both novices and those with teaching experience.
J. Rankin

7.60 Cell Biology: Structure and Functions of the Nucleus
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 7.06 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (68-121)
______
Eukaryotic genome structure, function, and expression, processing of RNA, and regulation of the cell cycle. Emphasis on the techniques and logic used to address important problems in nuclear cell biology. Lectures on broad topic areas in nuclear cell biology and discussions on representative recent papers.
L. Boyer, R. Young
No required or recommended textbooks

7.61[J] Eukaryotic Cell Biology: Principles and Practice
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 20.561[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Emphasizes methods and logic used to analyze structure and function of eukaryotic cells in diverse systems (e.g., yeast, fly, worm, mouse, human; development, stem cells, neurons). Combines lectures and in-depth roundtable discussions of literature readings with the active participation of faculty experts. Focuses on membranes (structure, function, traffic), organelles, the cell surface, signal transduction, cytoskeleton, cell motility and extracellular matrix. Ranges from basic studies to applications to human disease, while stressing critical analysis of experimental approaches. Enrollment limited.
M. Krieger, M. Yaffe

7.62 Microbial Physiology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 7.21)
Prereq: 7.03, 7.05, and permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Biochemical properties of bacteria and other microorganisms that enable them to grow under a variety of conditions. Interaction between bacteria and bacteriophages. Genetic and metabolic regulation of enzyme action and enzyme formation. Structure and function of components of the bacterial cell envelope. Protein secretion with a special emphasis on its various roles in pathogenesis. Additional topics include bioenergetics, symbiosis, quorum sensing, global responses to DNA damage, and biofilms. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
G. C. Walker, A. J. Sinskey

7.63[J] Immunology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 20.630[J])
(Subject meets with 7.23[J], 20.230[J])
Prereq: 7.06 and permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (4-370) Recitation: W12 (56-167) or W EVE (7 PM) (66-168) or R4 (66-160) or T4 (66-160)
______
Comprehensive survey of molecular, genetic, and cellular aspects of the immune system. Topics include innate and adaptive immunity; cells and organs of the immune system; hematopoiesis; immunoglobulin, T cell receptor, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins and genes; development and functions of B and T lymphocytes; immune responses to infections and tumors; hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, and immunodeficiencies. Particular attention to the development and function of the immune system as a whole, as studied by modern methods and techniques. Students taking graduate version explore the subject in greater depth, including study of recent primary literature.
S. Spranger, M. Birnbaum
No textbook information available

7.64 Molecular Mechanisms, Pathology and Therapy of Human Neuromuscular Disorders
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Investigates the molecular and clinical basis of central nervous system and neuromuscular disorders with particular emphasis on strategies for therapeutic intervention. Considers the in-depth analysis of clinical features, pathological mechanisms, and responses to current therapeutic interventions. Covers neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Amyotropic Lateral Schlerosis, Frontal Temporal Dementia, and neuromuscular disorders, such as Myotonic Dystrophy, Facio Scapular Humoral Dystrophy, and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
D. Housman

7.65[J] Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Core I
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 9.015[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Survey and primary literature review of selected major topic areas in molecular and cellular neurobiology. Covers nervous system development, axonal pathfinding, synapse formation and function, synaptic plasticity, ion channels and receptors, cellular neurophysiology, glial cells, sensory transduction, and relevant examples in human disease. Includes lectures and weekly paper write-ups, together with student presentations and discussion of primary literature. A final two-page research write-up is also due at the end of the term.
J. T. Littleton, M. Sheng, B. Weissbourd

7.66 Molecular Basis of Infectious Disease
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 7.26)
Prereq: 7.06 and permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (E25-111) Recitation: R4 (66-154) +final
______
Focuses on the principles of host-pathogen interactions with an emphasis on infectious diseases of humans. Presents key concepts of pathogenesis through the study of various human pathogens. Includes critical analysis and discussion of assigned readings. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
E. Chen, R. Lamason
No textbook information available

7.68[J] Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Core II
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 9.013[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (46-4062)
______
Survey and primary literature review of major areas in molecular and cellular neurobiology. Covers genetic neurotrophin signaling, adult neurogenesis, G-protein coupled receptor signaling, glia function, epigenetics, neuronal and homeostatic plasticity, neuromodulators of circuit function, and neurological/psychiatric disease mechanisms. Includes lectures and exams, and involves presentation and discussion of primary literature. 9.015 recommended, though the core subjects can be taken in any sequence.
G. Feng, L.-H. Tsai
No textbook information available

7.69[J] Developmental Neurobiology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 9.181[J])
(Subject meets with 7.49[J], 9.18[J])
Prereq: 9.011 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (46-3037) Recitation: T4 (46-3037)
______
Considers molecular control of neural specification, formation of neuronal connections, construction of neural systems, and the contributions of experience to shaping brain structure and function. Topics include: neural induction and pattern formation, cell lineage and fate determination, neuronal migration, axon guidance, synapse formation and stabilization, activity-dependent development and critical periods, development of behavior. In addition to final exam, analysis and presentation of research papers required for final grade. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students taking graduate version complete additional readings that will be addressed in their mid-term and final exams.
E. Nedivi, S. Prescott
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

7.70 Regulation of Gene Expression
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Seminar examines basic principles of biological regulation of gene expression. Focuses on examples that underpin these principles, as well as those that challenge certain long-held views. Topics covered may include the role of transcription factors, enhancers, DNA modifications, non-coding RNAs, and chromatin structure in the regulation of gene expression and mechanisms for epigenetic inheritance of transcriptional states. Limited to 40.
Staff

7.71 Biophysical Technique
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 5.78)
Prereq: 5.13, 5.60, (5.07 or 7.05), and permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: MWF1.30-3 (56-191)
______
Introduces students to modern biophysical methods to study biological systems from atomic, to molecular and cellular scales. Includes an in-depth discussion on the techniques that cover the full resolution range, including X-ray crystallography, electron-, and light microscopy. Discusses other common biophysical techniques for macromolecular characterizations. Lectures cover theoretical principles behind the techniques, and students are given practical laboratory exercises using instrumentation available at MIT. Meets with 5.78 when offered concurrently. 
C. Drennan, T. Schwartz
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

7.72 Stem Cells, Regeneration, and Development
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: W9.30-12.30 (Whitehead-7TH)
______
Topics include diverse stem cells, such as muscle, intestine, skin, hair and hematopoietic stem cells, as well as pluripotent stem cells. Topics address cell polarity and cell fate; positional information and patterning of development and regeneration; limb, heart and whole body regeneration; stem cell renewal; progenitor cells in development; responses to wounding; and applications of stem cells in development of therapies. Discussions of papers supplement lectures.
R. Jaenisch, P. Reddien
No required or recommended textbooks

7.73 Principles of Chemical Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 7.05 and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Spanning the fields of biology, chemistry and engineering, class addresses the principles of chemical biology and its application of chemical and physical methods and reagents to the study and manipulation of biological systems. Topics include bioorthogonal reactions and activity-based protein profiling, small molecule inhibitors and chemical genetics, fluorescent probes for biological studies, and unnatural amino acid mutagenesis. Also covers chemical biology approaches for studying dynamic post-translational modification reactions, natural product biosynthesis and mutasynthesis, and high-throughput drug screening. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
B. Imperiali, J. K. Weng

7.74[J] Topics in Biophysics and Physical Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 8.590[J], 20.416[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
Provides broad exposure to research in biophysics and physical biology, with emphasis on the critical evaluation of scientific literature. Weekly meetings include in-depth discussion of scientific literature led by distinct faculty on active research topics. Each session also includes brief discussion of non-research topics including effective presentation skills, writing papers and fellowship proposals, choosing scientific and technical research topics, time management, and scientific ethics.
J. Gore, N. Fakhri

7.75 Human Genetics and Genomics
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 7.35)
Prereq: 7.52 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: M9.30-12.30 (Whitehead-7TH)
______
Upper level seminar offering in-depth analysis and engaged discussion of primary literature on the dimensions and phenotypic consequences of variation in human genes, chromosomes, and genomes.  Topics include the human genome project; pedigree analysis; mutation and selection; linkage and association studies; medical genetics and disease; sex chromosomes and sex differences; the biology of the germ line; epigenetics, imprinting, and transgenerational inheritance; human origins; and evolutionary and population genetics. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20 total for versions meeting together.
D. Page
No textbook information available

7.76 Topics in Macromolecular Structure and Function
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
In-depth analysis and discussion of classic and current literature, with an emphasis on the structure, function, and mechanisms of proteins and other biological macromolecules.
Staff

7.77 Nucleic Acids, Structure, Function, Evolution, and Their Interactions with Proteins
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 7.05, 7.51, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: M EVE (3-6 PM) (68-121)
______
Surveys primary literature, focusing on biochemical, biophysical, genetic, and combinatorial approaches for understanding nucleic acids. Topics include the general properties, functions, and structural motifs of DNA and RNA; RNAs as catalysts and as regulators of gene expression; RNA editing and surveillance, and the interaction of nucleic acids with proteins, such as zinc-finger proteins, modification enzymes, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and other proteins of the translational machinery. Includes some lectures but is mostly analysis and discussion of current literature in the context of student presentations.
D. Bartel, A. Jain
No required or recommended textbooks

7.80 Fundamentals of Chemical Biology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 5.08[J], 7.08[J])
Prereq: 5.13 and (5.07 or 7.05)
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (56-114) Recitation: W3 (26-142) or W4 (26-142) or R3 (8-205) or R4 (8-205)
______
Spanning the fields of biology, chemistry, and engineering, this class introduces students to the principles of chemical biology and the application of chemical and physical methods and reagents to the study and manipulation of biological systems. Topics include nucleic acid structure, recognition, and manipulation; protein folding and stability, and proteostasis; bioorthogonal reactions and activity-based protein profiling; chemical genetics and small-molecule inhibitor screening; fluorescent probes for biological analysis and imaging; and unnatural amino acid mutagenesis. The class will also discuss the logic of dynamic post-translational modification reactions with an emphasis on chemical biology approaches for studying complex processes including glycosylation, phosphorylation, and lipidation. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
B. Imperiali, M. Shoulders
No required or recommended textbooks

7.81[J] Systems Biology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 8.591[J])
(Subject meets with 7.32)
Prereq: (18.03 and 18.05) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to cellular and population-level systems biology with an emphasis on synthetic biology, modeling of genetic networks, cell-cell interactions, and evolutionary dynamics. Cellular systems include genetic switches and oscillators, network motifs, genetic network evolution, and cellular decision-making. Population-level systems include models of pattern formation, cell-cell communication, and evolutionary systems biology. Students taking graduate version explore the subject in more depth.
J. Gore

7.82 Development, Disease and Therapeutics
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9 [P/D/F]
Lecture: M EVE (3-6 PM) (Whitehead-7TH)
______
Seminar covering the key concepts and technological approaches that are used to study and treat human disease. Topics include human genome variation, germline editing, gene therapy, stem cell derived organoids, human-animal chimeras and the application of these approaches to the study and treatment of major diseases.
R. Jaenisch, R. Young
No required or recommended textbooks

7.83 Design Principles of Biological Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 7.38)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces students to biological control mechanisms governing decision-making and tools to decipher, model, and perturb these mechanisms. Systems presented include signal transduction, cell cycle control, developmental biology, and the immune system. These systems provide examples of feedback and feedforward control, oscillators, kinetic proofreading, spatial and temporal averaging, and pattern formation. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
D. Lew, H. Wong

7.84 Advanced Concepts in Immunology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 7.24)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 7.63; or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: F9-11 (76-259) Recitation: TBA
______
Provides a comprehensive and intensified understanding of the relevance of the immune system beyond immunity. Focuses on how the immune system intersects with all aspects of body homeostasis/physiology or disease and how the immune system can be manipulated therapeutically. New advances in the intersection of immunology with cancer biology, neurosciences, metabolism, aging, and maternal-fetal immunology or similar explored. Presents new modern methods and techniques applicable beyond immunology. Includes critical analysis and discussion of assigned readings. Students apply principles learned in class to generate a potential research project, presented in a written form. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
H. Moura Silva, S. Spranger
No textbook information available

7.85 The Hallmarks of Cancer
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 7.45)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 7.06; permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of cancer biology and cancer treatment. Topics include cancer genetics, genomics, and epigenetics; familial cancer syndromes; signal transduction, cell cycle control, and apoptosis; cancer metabolism; stem cells and cancer; metastasis; cancer immunology and immunotherapy; conventional and molecularly-targeted therapies; and early detection and prevention. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Hemann, T. Jacks

7.86 Building with Cells
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 7.46)
Prereq: 7.03 and 7.05
Units: 4-0-8
______
Focuses on fundamental principles of developmental biology by which cells build organs and organisms. Analyzes the pivotal role of stem cells in tissue maintenance or repair, and in treatment of disease. Explores how to integrate this knowledge with engineering tools to construct functional tissue structures. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
L. Boyer, P. Li

7.88[J] Protein Folding in Health and Disease
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring); first half of term
(Same subject as 5.48[J])
Prereq: (5.07 or 7.05) and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
______
Focuses on understanding the chemical and biological mechanisms of protein folding, misfolding, aggregation, and quality control. Topics covered include: molecular mechanisms of protein folding; experimental and computational strategies to study protein folding; how cells fold and quality control proteins; protein misfolding and aggregation; proteostasis and human disease; strategies to address protein folding failures in disease; and protein folding in biotechnology development. Provides state-of-the-art understanding of the field, fosters ability to critically assess and use the literature, and empowers students to study and address protein folding issues in their research and beyond.
M. Shoulders

7.89[J] Topics in Computational and Systems Biology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as CSB.100[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-10
______
Seminar based on research literature. Papers covered are selected to illustrate important problems and varied approaches in the field of computational and systems biology, and to provide students a framework from which to evaluate new developments. Preference to first-year CSB PhD students.
C. Burge

7.91 The CRISPR Revolution: Engineering the Genome for Basic Science and Clinical Medicine
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 7.36)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a conceptual and technical understanding of genome editing systems and their research and clinical applications. Focuses on fundamental CRISPR biology in bacteria, methodologies for manipulating the genome with CRISPR, and the application of genome engineering in research and medicine. Combines lectures and literature discussions with critical analysis and assigned readings, with the goal of better understanding how key discoveries were made and how these are applied in the real work. Class work includes brief writing assignments as well as a final research proposal and scientific presentation. Students taking the graduate version explore the subject in greater depth, in part through additional assignments.
F. Sánchez-Rivera, J. Weissman

7.930[J] Research Experience in Biopharma
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 20.930[J], CSB.930[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-10-0
______
Provides exposure to industrial science and develops skills necessary for success in such an environment. Under the guidance of an industrial mentor, students participate in on-site research at a local biopharmaceutical company where they observe and participate in industrial science. Serves as a real-time case study to internalize the factors that shape R&D in industry, including the purpose and scope of a project, key decision points in the past and future, and strategies for execution. Students utilize company resources and work with a scientific team to contribute to the goals of their assigned project; they then present project results to the company and class, emphasizing the logic that dictated their work and their ideas for future directions. Lecture component focuses on professional development.
Burge, Engelward, Meyer

7.931 Independent Study in Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Program of study or research to be arranged with a department faculty member.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No textbook information available

7.932 Independent Study in Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of study or research to be arranged with a department faculty member.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No textbook information available

7.933 Research Rotations in Biology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Introduces students to faculty participating in the Biology graduate program through a series of lab rotations, which provide broad exposure to biology research at MIT. Students select a lab for thesis research by the end of their first year. Limited to students in the Biology graduate program.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No textbook information available

7.934 Teaching Experience in Biology
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For qualified graduate students in the Biology graduate program interested in teaching. Classroom or laboratory teaching under the supervision of a faculty member.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
No textbook information available

7.935 Responsible Conduct in Biology
______

Graduate (IAP)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Sessions focus on the responsible conduct of science. Considers recordkeeping and reporting; roles of mentor and mentee; authorship, review, and confidentiality; resolving conflicts; misfeasance and malfeasance; collaborations, competing interests, and intellectual property; and proper practices in the use of animal and human subjects. Limited to second-year graduate students in Biology.
Fall: B. Walsh
IAP: S. Hrvatin, Y. Yamashita
No textbook information available

7.936 Professional Development in Biology
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 0-2-0 [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Required for course 7 doctoral students to gain professional perspective in career development activities such as internships, scientific meetings, and career and networking events. Written report required upon completion of activities.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No textbook information available

7.941 Research Problems
______

Graduate (Fall, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Directed research in a field of biological science, but not contributory to graduate thesis.
Fall: Consult Biology Education Office
Summer: Consult Biology Education Office

7.942 Research Problems
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Directed research in a field of biological science, but not contributory to graduate thesis.
Consult Biology Education Office
No textbook information available

7.95 Cancer Biology
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 7.85 and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: R EVE (4-6 PM) (Whitehead-7TH)
______
Advanced seminar involving intensive analysis of historical and current developments in cancer biology. Topics address principles of apoptosis, principles of cancer biology, cancer genetics, cancer cell metabolism, tumor immunology, and therapy. Detailed analysis of research literature, including important reports published in recent years. Enrollment limited.
R. Weinberg, O. Yilmaz
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

7.98[J] Neural Plasticity in Learning and Memory
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 9.301[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examination of the role of neural plasticity during learning and memory of invertebrates and mammals. Detailed critical analysis of the current literature of molecular, cellular, genetic, electrophysiological, and behavioral studies. Student-directed presentations and discussions of original papers supplemented by introductory lectures. Juniors and seniors require instructor's permission.
Staff

7.C51 Machine Learning in Molecular and Cellular Biology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.C01[J], 3.C51[J], 7.C01, 10.C01[J], 10.C51[J], 20.C01[J], 20.C51[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR), 6.100A, 6.C51, and 7.05
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3 (45-230)
______
Introduces machine learning as a tool to understand natural biological systems, with an evolving emphasis on problems in molecular and cellular biology that are being actively advanced using machine learning. Students design, implement, and interpret machine learning approaches to aid in predicting protein structure, probing protein structure/function relationships, and imaging biological systems at scales ranging from the atomic to cellular. Students taking graduate version complete an additional project-based assignment. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C51.
C. Coley, J. Davis, E. Fraenkel, R. Gomez-Bombarelli
No textbook information available

7.S930 Special Subject in Biology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Covers material in various fields of biology not offered by the regular subjects of instruction.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

7.S931 Special Subject in Biology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Covers material in various fields of biology not offered by the regular subjects of instruction.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

7.S932 Special Subject in Biology
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers material in various fields of biology not offered by the regular subjects of instruction.
Staff

7.S939 Special Subject in Biology
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Covers material in various fields of biology not offered by the regular subjects of instruction.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

7.THG Graduate Biology Thesis
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research leading to the writing of a Ph.D. thesis; to be arranged by the student and an appropriate MIT faculty member.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
Textbooks arranged individually


left arrow | 7.00-7.999 plus UROP and Thesis | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 8: Physics
IAP/Spring 2025


Undergraduate Subjects

8.006 Exploring Physics Using Python
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 6.100L; or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
Lecture: F10-12 (32-082)
______
Reviews and reinforces 6.100L topics, making connections and studying interesting physical systems (from abstract knowledge of concepts to modeling, coding, and evaluating results) that are relevant to physicists. Classes are active and interactive. Students apply programming skills to introductory physics problems and explore the role of simulations on physics. Limited to 12.
Fall: M. Heine
Spring: M. Heine
No required or recommended textbooks

8.01 Physics I
______

Undergrad (Fall) Physics I
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-7
Credit cannot also be received for 8.011, 8.012, 8.01L, ES.801, ES.8012
______
Introduces classical mechanics. Space and time: straight-line kinematics; motion in a plane; forces and static equilibrium; particle dynamics, with force and conservation of momentum; relative inertial frames and non-inertial force; work, potential energy and conservation of energy; kinetic theory and the ideal gas; rigid bodies and rotational dynamics; vibrational motion; conservation of angular momentum; central force motions; fluid mechanics. Subject taught using the TEAL (Technology-Enabled Active Learning) format which features students working in groups of three, discussing concepts, solving problems, and doing table-top experiments with the aid of computer data acquisition and analysis.
Fall: C. Paus, P. Dourmashkin
IAP: P. Dourmashkin
No textbook information available

8.011 Physics I
______

Undergrad (Spring) Physics I
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 8.01, 8.012, 8.01L, ES.801, ES.8012
Lecture: MW12-2 (32-082) Recitation: F1 (32-082) +final
______
Introduces classical mechanics. Space and time: straight-line kinematics; motion in a plane; forces and equilibrium; experimental basis of Newton's laws; particle dynamics; universal gravitation; collisions and conservation laws; work and potential energy; vibrational motion; conservative forces; inertial forces and non-inertial frames; central force motions; rigid bodies and rotational dynamics. Designed for students with previous experience in 8.01; the subject is designated as 8.01 on the transcript.
B. Drury
No textbook information available

8.012 Physics I
______

Undergrad (Fall) Physics I
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 8.01, 8.011, 8.01L, ES.801, ES.8012
______
Elementary mechanics, presented in greater depth than in 8.01. Newton's laws, concepts of momentum, energy, angular momentum, rigid body motion, and non-inertial systems. Uses elementary calculus freely; concurrent registration in a math subject more advanced than 18.01 is recommended. In addition to covering the theoretical subject matter, students complete a small experimental project of their own design. First-year students admitted via AP or Math Diagnostic for Physics Placement results.
L. Necib

8.01L Physics I
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP) Physics I
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-7
Credit cannot also be received for 8.01, 8.011, 8.012, ES.801, ES.8012
______
Introduction to classical mechanics (see description under 8.01). Includes components of the TEAL (Technology-Enabled Active Learning) format. Material covered over a longer interval so that the subject is completed by the end of the IAP. Substantial emphasis given to reviewing and strengthening necessary mathematics tools, as well as basic physics concepts and problem-solving skills. Content, depth, and difficulty is otherwise identical to that of 8.01. The subject is designated as 8.01 on the transcript.
Fall: R. Milner
IAP: R. Milner
No textbook information available

8.02 Physics II
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Physics II
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-2-7
Credit cannot also be received for 8.021, 8.022, ES.802, ES.8022
URL: http://web.mit.edu/physics/subjects/index.html
Lecture: MW9-10.30,F9 (26-152) or MW11-12.30,F11 (26-152) or MW1-2.30,F1 (26-152) or MW3-4.30,F3 (26-152) or TR9-10.30,F10 (26-152) or TR11-12.30,F12 (26-152) or TR1-2.30,F2 (26-152) or TR3-4.30,F4 (26-152) +final
______
Introduction to electromagnetism and electrostatics: electric charge, Coulomb's law, electric structure of matter; conductors and dielectrics. Concepts of electrostatic field and potential, electrostatic energy. Electric currents, magnetic fields and Ampere's law. Magnetic materials. Time-varying fields and Faraday's law of induction. Basic electric circuits. Electromagnetic waves and Maxwell's equations. Subject taught using the TEAL (Technology Enabled Active Learning) studio format which utilizes small group interaction and current technology to help students develop intuition about, and conceptual models of, physical phenomena.
Fall: M. Tegmark, L. Winslow
Spring: N. Gedik
No textbook information available

8.021 Physics II
______

Undergrad (Fall) Physics II
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR), Physics I (GIR), and permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 8.02, 8.022, ES.802, ES.8022
______
Introduction to electromagnetism and electrostatics: electric charge, Coulomb's law, electric structure of matter; conductors and dielectrics. Concepts of electrostatic field and potential, electrostatic energy. Electric currents, magnetic fields and Ampere's law. Magnetic materials. Time-varying fields and Faraday's law of induction. Basic electric circuits. Electromagnetic waves and Maxwell's equations. Designed for students with previous experience in 8.02; the subject is designated as 8.02 on the transcript. Enrollment limited.
E. Katsavounidis

8.022 Physics II
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Physics II
Prereq: Physics I (GIR); Coreq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 8.02, 8.021, ES.802, ES.8022
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (6-120) Recitation: TR10 (26-314) or TR11 (26-314) +final
______
Parallel to 8.02, but more advanced mathematically. Some knowledge of vector calculus assumed. Maxwell's equations, in both differential and integral form. Electrostatic and magnetic vector potential. Properties of dielectrics and magnetic materials. In addition to the theoretical subject matter, several experiments in electricity and magnetism are performed by the students in the laboratory.
Fall: J. Checkelsky
Spring: G. Innocenti
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

8.03 Physics III
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics II (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
URL: http://web.mit.edu/physics/subjects/index.html
Lecture: TR1.30-3 (2-105) Recitation: MW1 (56-114) or MW2 (56-114) +final
______
Mechanical vibrations and waves; simple harmonic motion, superposition, forced vibrations and resonance, coupled oscillations, and normal modes; vibrations of continuous systems; reflection and refraction; phase and group velocity. Optics; wave solutions to Maxwell's equations; polarization; Snell's Law, interference, Huygens's principle, Fraunhofer diffraction, and gratings.
Fall: A. Vanderburg
Spring: Y. Lee
No textbook information available

8.033 Relativity
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics II (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
______
Einstein's postulates; consequences for simultaneity, time dilation, length contraction, and clock synchronization; Lorentz transformation; relativistic effects and paradoxes; Minkowski diagrams; invariants and four-vectors; momentum, energy, and mass; particle collisions. Relativity and electricity; Coulomb's law; magnetic fields. Brief introduction to Newtonian cosmology. Introduction to some concepts of general relativity; principle of equivalence. The Schwarzchild metric; gravitational red shift; particle and light trajectories; geodesics; Shapiro delay.
S. Hughes

8.04 Quantum Physics I
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: 8.03 and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 8.041
URL: http://web.mit.edu/physics/subjects/index.html
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (6-120) Recitation: TR10 (4-257) or TR11 (4-257) or TR1 (26-322) or TR2 (26-322) +final
______
Experimental basis of quantum physics: photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, photons, Franck-Hertz experiment, the Bohr atom, electron diffraction, deBroglie waves, and wave-particle duality of matter and light. Introduction to wave mechanics: Schroedinger's equation, wave functions, wave packets, probability amplitudes, stationary states, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, and zero-point energies. Solutions to Schroedinger's equation in one dimension: transmission and reflection at a barrier, barrier penetration, potential wells, the simple harmonic oscillator. Schroedinger's equation in three dimensions: central potentials and introduction to hydrogenic systems.
A. Harrow
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

8.041 Quantum Physics I
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: 8.03 and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 2-0-10
Credit cannot also be received for 8.04
______
Blended version of 8.04 using a combination of online and in-person instruction. Covers the experimental basis of quantum physics: Mach-Zender interferometers, the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, and de Broglie waves. Heisenberg uncertainty principle and momentum space. Introduction to wave mechanics: Schroedinger's equation, probability amplitudes, and wave packets. Stationary states and the spectrum of one-dimensional potentials, including the variational principle, the Hellmann-Feynman lemma, the virial theorem, and the harmonic oscillator. Basics of angular momentum, central potentials, and the hydrogen atom. Introduction to the Stern-Gerlach experiment, spin one-half, spin operators, and spin states.
B. Zwiebach

8.044 Statistical Physics I
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 8.03 and 18.03
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (6-120) Recitation: MW10 (26-204) or MW11 (26-204) or MW2 (26-322) or MW3 (26-322) +final
______
Introduction to probability, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics. Random variables, joint and conditional probability densities, and functions of a random variable. Concepts of macroscopic variables and thermodynamic equilibrium, fundamental assumption of statistical mechanics, microcanonical and canonical ensembles. First, second, and third laws of thermodynamics. Numerous examples illustrating a wide variety of physical phenomena such as magnetism, polyatomic gases, thermal radiation, electrons in solids, and noise in electronic devices. Concurrent enrollment in 8.04 is recommended.
R. Fletcher
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

8.05 Quantum Physics II
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 8.04 or 8.041
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 8.051
______
Vector spaces, linear operators, and matrix representations.  Inner products and adjoint operators. Commutator identities. Dirac's Bra-kets. Uncertainty principle and energy-time version. Spectral theorem and complete set of commuting observables. Schrodinger and Heisenberg pictures.  Axioms of quantum mechanics. Coherent states and nuclear magnetic resonance. Multiparticle states and tensor products. Quantum teleportation, EPR and Bell inequalities. Angular momentum and central potentials. Addition of angular momentum. Density matrices, pure and mixed states, decoherence.
S. Choi

8.051 Quantum Physics II
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 8.04 and permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-10
Credit cannot also be received for 8.05
Lecture: MW10 (56-114) +final
______
Blended version of 8.05 using a combination of online and in-person instruction. Together with 8.06 covers quantum physics with applications drawn from modern physics. General formalism of quantum mechanics: states, operators, Dirac notation, representations, measurement theory. Harmonic oscillator: operator algebra, states. Quantum mechanics in three dimensions: central potentials and the radial equation, bound and scattering states, qualitative analysis of wave functions. Angular momentum: operators, commutator algebra, eigenvalues and eigenstates, spherical harmonics. Spin: Stern-Gerlach devices and measurements, nuclear magnetic resonance, spin and statistics. Addition of angular momentum: Clebsch-Gordan series and coefficients, spin systems, and allotropic forms of hydrogen. Limited to 20.
B. Zwiebach
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

8.06 Quantum Physics III
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 8.05
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (6-120) Recitation: MW10 (26-322) or MW11 (26-322) +final
______
Continuation of 8.05. Units: natural units, scales of microscopic phenomena, applications. Time-independent approximation methods: degenerate and nondegenerate perturbation theory, variational method, Born-Oppenheimer approximation, applications to atomic and molecular systems. The structure of one- and two-electron atoms: overview, spin-orbit and relativistic corrections, fine structure, variational approximation, screening, Zeeman and Stark effects. Charged particles in a magnetic field: Landau levels and integer quantum hall effect. Scattering: general principles, partial waves, review of one-dimension, low-energy approximations, resonance, Born approximation. Time-dependent perturbation theory. Students research and write a paper on a topic related to the content of 8.05 and 8.06.
M. Ivanov
No textbook information available

8.07 Electromagnetism II
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 8.03 and 18.03
Units: 4-0-8
______
Survey of basic electromagnetic phenomena: electrostatics, magnetostatics; electromagnetic properties of matter. Time-dependent electromagnetic fields and Maxwell's equations. Electromagnetic waves, emission, absorption, and scattering of radiation. Relativistic electrodynamics and mechanics.
L. Fu

8.08 Statistical Physics II
______

Undergrad (IAP)
Prereq: 8.044 and 8.05
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to stochastic dynamics, in and out of equilibrium, from single to many-body systems. Topics include: Langevin and Fokker Planck equations, Stochastic thermodynamics, Markov chains, and ratchet currents. Methods are illustrated on examples ranging from soft matter physics to biophysics including colloid dynamics, bacterial motion, and active matter. Applications outside physics are discussed, such as epidemic spreading and econophysics.
J. Tailleur
Textbooks (IAP 2025)

8.09 Classical Mechanics III
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 8.309)
Prereq: 8.223
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (3-370) Recitation: F1 (26-328) or F2 (26-328) +final
______
Covers Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, systems with constraints, rigid body dynamics, vibrations, central forces, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, action-angle variables, perturbation theory, and continuous systems. Provides an introduction to ideal and viscous fluid mechanics, including turbulence, as well as an introduction to nonlinear dynamics, including chaos. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
S. Millholland
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

Undergraduate Laboratory and Special Project Subjects

8.10 Exploring and Communicating Physics (and other) Frontiers
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-0 [P/D/F]
______
Features a series of 12 interactive sessions that span a wide variety of topics at the frontiers of science - e.g., quantum computing, dark matter, the nature of time - and encourage independent thinking. Discussions draw from the professor's published pieces in periodicals as well as short excerpts from his books.  Also discusses, through case studies, the process of writing and re-writing. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students.
F. Wilczek

8.13 Experimental Physics I
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Institute Lab
Prereq: 8.04
Units: 0-6-12
URL: http://web.mit.edu/physics/subjects/index.html
Lab: TR9-12 (4-361) or TR2-5 (4-361)
______
First in a two-term advanced laboratory sequence in modern physics focusing on the professional and personal development of the student as a scientist through the medium of experimental physics. Experimental options cover special relativity, experimental foundations of quantum mechanics, atomic structure and optics, statistical mechanics, and nuclear and particle physics. Uses modern physics experiments to develop laboratory technique, systematic troubleshooting, professional scientific attitude, data analysis skills and reasoning about uncertainty. Provides extensive training in oral and written communication methods. Limited to 12 students per section.
Fall: G. Roland
Spring: G. Roland
No textbook information available

8.14 Experimental Physics II
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 8.05 and 8.13
Units: 0-6-12
Lab: MW2-5 (4-361)
______
Second in a two-term advanced laboratory sequence in modern physics focusing on the professional and personal development of the student as a scientist through the medium of experimental physics. Experimental options cover special relativity, experimental foundations of quantum mechanics, atomic structure and optics, statistical mechanics, and nuclear and particle physics. Uses modern physics experiments to develop laboratory technique, systematic troubleshooting, professional scientific attitude, data analysis skills, and reasoning about uncertainty; provides extensive training in oral and written communication methods. Continues 8.13 practice in these skills using more advanced experiments and adds an exploratory project element in which students develop an experiment from the proposal and design stage to a final presentation of results in a poster session. Limited to 12 students per section.
N. Fakhri
No textbook information available

8.16 Data Science in Physics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 8.316)
Prereq: 8.04 and (6.100A, 6.100B, or permission of instructor)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (36-112)
______
Aims to present modern computational methods by providing realistic, contemporary examples of how these computational methods apply to physics research. Designed around research modules in which each module provides experience with a specific scientific challenge. Modules include: analyzing LIGO open data; measuring electroweak boson to quark decays; understanding the cosmic microwave background; and lattice QCD/Ising model. Experience in Python helpful but not required. Lectures are viewed outside of class; in-class time is dedicated to problem-solving and discussion. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
P. Harris
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

8.18 Research Problems in Undergraduate Physics
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Opportunity for undergraduates to engage in experimental or theoretical research under the supervision of a staff member. Specific approval required in each case.
Fall: S. Robinson
IAP: S. Robinson
Spring: S. Robinson
No textbook information available

8.19 Readings in Physics
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Supervised reading and library work. Choice of material and allotment of time according to individual needs. For students who want to do work not provided for in the regular subjects. Specific approval required in each case.
Fall: L. Winslow
IAP: L. Winslow
Spring: L. Winslow
No textbook information available

Undergraduate Elective Subjects

8.20 Introduction to Special Relativity
______

Undergrad (IAP) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 2-0-7
______
Introduces the basic ideas and equations of Einstein's special theory of relativity. Topics include Lorentz transformations, length contraction and time dilation, four vectors, Lorentz invariants, relativistic energy and momentum, relativistic kinematics, Doppler shift, space-time diagrams, relativity paradoxes, and some concepts of general relativity. Intended for freshmen and sophomores. Not usable as a restricted elective by Physics majors. Credit cannot be received for 8.20 if credit for 8.033 is or has been received in the same or prior terms.
Y. Lee
No textbook information available

8.21 Physics of Energy
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics II (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (26-328) Recitation: TR3 (2-146)
______
A comprehensive introduction to the fundamental physics of energy systems that emphasizes quantitative analysis. Focuses on the fundamental physical principles underlying energy processes and on the application of these principles to practical calculations. Applies mechanics and electromagnetism to energy systems; introduces and applies basic ideas from thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and nuclear physics. Examines energy sources, conversion, transport, losses, storage, conservation, and end uses. Analyzes the physics of side effects, such as global warming and radiation hazards. Provides students with technical tools and perspective to evaluate energy choices quantitatively at both national policy and personal levels.
M. Evans
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

8.223 Classical Mechanics II
______

Undergrad (IAP)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 2-0-4
______
A broad, theoretical treatment of classical mechanics, useful in its own right for treating complex dynamical problems, but essential to understanding the foundations of quantum mechanics and statistical physics. Generalized coordinates, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations, canonical transformations, and Poisson brackets. Applications to continuous media. The relativistic Lagrangian and Maxwell's equations.
M. Williams
Textbooks (IAP 2025)

8.224 Exploring Black Holes: General Relativity and Astrophysics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 8.033 or 8.20
Units: 3-0-9
______
Study of physical effects in the vicinity of a black hole as a basis for understanding general relativity, astrophysics, and elements of cosmology. Extension to current developments in theory and observation. Energy and momentum in flat space-time; the metric; curvature of space-time near rotating and nonrotating centers of attraction; trajectories and orbits of particles and light; elementary models of the Cosmos. Weekly meetings include an evening seminar and recitation. The last third of the term is reserved for collaborative research projects on topics such as the Global Positioning System, solar system tests of relativity, descending into a black hole, gravitational lensing, gravitational waves, Gravity Probe B, and more advanced models of the cosmos. Subject has online components that are open to selected MIT alumni. Alumni wishing to participate should contact Professor Bertschinger at edbert@mit.edu. Limited to 40.
Staff

8.225[J] Einstein, Oppenheimer, Feynman: Physics in the 20th Century
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as STS.042[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the changing roles of physics and physicists during the 20th century. Topics range from relativity theory and quantum mechanics to high-energy physics and cosmology. Examines the development of modern physics within shifting institutional, cultural, and political contexts, such as physics in Imperial Britain, Nazi Germany, US efforts during World War II, and physicists' roles during the Cold War. Enrollment limited.
D. I. Kaiser

8.226 Forty-three Orders of Magnitude
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: (8.04 and 8.044) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (4-265)
______
Examines the widespread societal implications of current scientific discoveries in physics across forty-three orders of magnitude in length scale. Addresses topics ranging from climate change to nuclear nonproliferation. Students develop their ability to express concepts at a level accessible to the public and to present a well-reasoned argument on a topic that is a part of the national debate. Requires diverse writing assignments, including substantial papers. Enrollment limited.
J. Gore
No textbook information available

8.228 Relativity II
______

Undergrad (IAP)
Prereq: 8.033 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
URL: IAP URL: https://physics.mit.edu/faculty/tracy-slatyer/
______
A fast-paced and intensive introduction to general relativity, covering advanced topics beyond the 8.033 curriculum. Provides students with a foundation for research relying on knowledge of general relativity, including gravitational waves and cosmology. Additional topics in curvature, weak gravity, and cosmology.
M. Vogelsberger
No textbook information available

8.231 Physics of Solids I
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 8.044; Coreq: 8.05
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to the basic concepts of the quantum theory of solids. Topics: periodic structure and symmetry of crystals; diffraction; reciprocal lattice; chemical bonding; lattice dynamics, phonons, thermal properties; free electron gas; model of metals; Bloch theorem and band structure, nearly free electron approximation; tight binding method; Fermi surface; semiconductors, electrons, holes, impurities; optical properties, excitons; and magnetism.
L. Ju

8.241 Introduction to Biological Physics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: Physics II (GIR) and (8.044 or (5.601 and 5.602))
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 20.315, 20.415
______
Introduces the main concepts of biological physics, with a focus on biophysical phenomena at the molecular and cellular scales. Presents the role of entropy and diffusive transport in living matter; challenges to life resulting from the highly viscous environment present at microscopic scales, including constraints on force, motion and transport within cells, tissues, and fluids; principles of how cellular machinery (e.g., molecular motors) can convert electro-chemical energy sources to mechanical forces and motion. Also covers polymer physics relevant to DNA and other biological polymers, including the study of configurations, fluctuations, rigidity, and entropic elasticity. Meets with 20.315 and 20.415 when offered concurrently.
Staff

8.245[J] Viruses, Pandemics, and Immunity
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 5.003[J], 10.382[J], HST.439[J])
(Subject meets with 5.002[J], 10.380[J], HST.438[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1
______
Covers the history of infectious diseases, basics of virology, immunology, and epidemiology, and ways in which diagnostic tests, vaccines, and antiviral therapies are currently designed and manufactured. Examines the origins of inequities in infection rates in society, and issues pertinent to vaccine safety. Final project explores how to create a more pandemic-resilient world. HST.438 intended for first-year students; all others should take HST.439.
A. Chakraborty

8.251 String Theory for Undergraduates
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 8.033, 8.044, and 8.05
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 8.821
______
Introduction to the main concepts of string theory, i.e., quantum mechanics of a relativistic string. Develops aspects of string theory and makes it accessible to students familiar with basic electromagnetism and statistical mechanics, including the study of D-branes and string thermodynamics. Meets with 8.821 when offered concurrently.
H. Liu

8.276 Nuclear and Particle Physics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 8.033 and 8.04
Units: 4-0-8
______
Presents a modern view of the fundamental structure of matter. Starting from the Standard Model, which views leptons and quarks as basic building blocks of matter, establishes the properties and interactions of these particles. Explores applications of this phenomenology to both particle and nuclear physics. Emphasizes current topics in nuclear and particle physics research at MIT. Intended for students with a basic knowledge of relativity and quantum physics concepts.
Staff

8.277 Introduction to Particle Accelerators
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: (6.2300 or 8.07) and permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Principles of acceleration: beam properties; linear accelerators, synchrotrons, and storage rings. Accelerator technologies: radio frequency cavities, bending and focusing magnets, beam diagnostics. Particle beam optics and dynamics. Special topics: measures of accelerators performance in science, medicine and industry; synchrotron radiation sources; free electron lasers; high-energy colliders; and accelerators for radiation therapy. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of 12 units.
Staff

8.282[J] Introduction to Astronomy
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 12.402[J])
Prereq: Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (4-231) +final
______
Quantitative introduction to the physics of planets, stars, galaxies and our universe, from origin to ultimate fate, with emphasis on the physics tools and observational techniques that enable our understanding. Topics include our solar system, extrasolar planets; our Sun and other "normal" stars, star formation, evolution and death, supernovae, compact objects (white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars, stellar-mass black holes); galactic structure, star clusters, interstellar medium, dark matter; other galaxies, quasars, supermassive black holes, gravitational waves; cosmic large-scale structure, origin, evolution and fate of our universe, inflation, dark energy, cosmic microwave background radiation, gravitational lensing, 21cm tomography. Not usable as a restricted elective by Physics majors.
M. Tegmark
No textbook information available

8.284 Modern Astrophysics
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 8.04
Units: 3-0-9
______
Application of physics (Newtonian, statistical, and quantum mechanics; special and general relativity) to fundamental processes that occur in celestial objects. Includes main-sequence stars, collapsed stars (white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes), pulsars, galaxies, active galaxies, quasars, and cosmology. Electromagnetic and gravitational radiation signatures of astrophysical phenomena explored through examination of observational data. No prior knowledge of astronomy required.
M. Mcdonald

8.286 The Early Universe
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Physics II (GIR) and 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to modern cosmology. First half deals with the development of the big bang theory from 1915 to 1980, and latter half with recent impact of particle theory. Topics: special relativity and the Doppler effect, Newtonian cosmological models, introduction to non-Euclidean spaces, thermal radiation and early history of the universe, big bang nucleosynthesis, introduction to grand unified theories and other recent developments in particle theory, baryogenesis, the inflationary universe model, and the evolution of galactic structure.
A. Guth

8.287[J] Observational Techniques of Optical Astronomy
______

Undergrad (Fall) Institute Lab
(Same subject as 12.410[J])
Prereq: 8.282, 12.409, or other introductory astronomy course
Units: 3-4-8
______
Fundamental physical and optical principles used for astronomical measurements at visible wavelengths and practical methods of astronomical observations. Topics: astronomical coordinates, time, optics, telescopes, photon counting, signal-to-noise ratios, data analysis (including least-squares model fitting), limitations imposed by the Earth's atmosphere on optical observations, CCD detectors, photometry, spectroscopy, astrometry, and time variability. Project at Wallace Astrophysical Observatory. Written and oral project reports. Limited to 18; preference to Course 8 and Course 12 majors and minors.
M. Person, R. Teague

8.290[J] Extrasolar Planets: Physics and Detection Techniques
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 12.425[J])
(Subject meets with 12.625)
Prereq: 8.03 and 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
______
Presents basic principles of planet atmospheres and interiors applied to the study of extrasolar planets. Focuses on fundamental physical processes related to observable extrasolar planet properties. Provides a quantitative overview of detection techniques. Introduction to the feasibility of the search for Earth-like planets, biosignatures and habitable conditions on extrasolar planets. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Seager

8.292[J] Fluid Physics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.066[J], 12.330[J])
Prereq: 5.60, 8.044, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (5-217)
______
A physics-based introduction to the properties of fluids and fluid systems, with examples drawn from a broad range of sciences, including atmospheric physics and astrophysics. Definitions of fluids and the notion of continuum. Equations of state and continuity, hydrostatics and conservation of momentum; ideal fluids and Euler's equation; viscosity and the Navier-Stokes equation. Energy considerations, fluid thermodynamics, and isentropic flow. Compressible versus incompressible and rotational versus irrotational flow; Bernoulli's theorem; steady flow, streamlines and potential flow. Circulation and vorticity. Kelvin's theorem. Boundary layers. Fluid waves and instabilities. Quantum fluids.
L. Bourouiba
No textbook information available

8.295 Practical Experience in Physics
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 0-1-0 [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For Course 8 students participating in off-campus experiences in physics. Before registering for this subject, students must have an internship offer from a company or organization and must identify a Physics advisor. Upon completion of the project, student must submit a letter from the company or organization describing the work accomplished, along with a substantive final report from the student approved by the MIT advisor. Subject to departmental approval. Consult departmental academic office.
Fall: L. Winslow
IAP: L. Winslow
Spring: L. Winslow
No textbook information available

8.298 Selected Topics in Physics
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Presentation of topics of current interest, with content varying from year to year.
L. Winslow
No textbook information available

8.299 Physics Teaching
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For qualified undergraduate students interested in gaining some experience in teaching. Laboratory, tutorial, or classroom teaching under the supervision of a faculty member. Students selected by interview.
Fall: L. Winslow
Spring: Winslow, Lindley
No textbook information available

8.EPE UPOP Engineering Practice Experience
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.EPE, 2.EPE, 3.EPE, 6.EPE, 8.EPE, 10.EPE, 15.EPE, 16.EPE, 20.EPE, 22.EPE)
Prereq: None
Units: 0-0-1 [P/D/F]
Lab: M11 (3-333) or M1 (1-390) or T1 (3-333) or F11 (3-333) or F1 (3-333)
______
Provides students with skills to prepare for and excel in the world of industry. Emphasizes practical application of career theory and professional development concepts. Introduces students to relevant and timely resources for career development, provides students with tools to embark on a successful internship search, and offers networking opportunities with employers and MIT alumni. Students work in groups, led by industry mentors, to improve their resumes and cover letters, interviewing skills, networking abilities, project management, and ability to give and receive feedback. Objective is for students to be able to adapt and contribute effectively to their future employment organizations. A total of two units of credit is awarded for completion of the fall and subsequent spring term offerings. Application required; consult UPOP website for more information.
Fall: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
IAP: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
Spring: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
No textbook information available

8.S014 Special Subject: Physics
(New)
______

Undergrad (IAP)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Opportunity for group study of subjects in physics not otherwise included in the curriculum.
K. Rajagopal
No required or recommended textbooks

8.S02 Special Subject: Physics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Opportunity for group study of subjects in physics not otherwise included in the curriculum.
P. Dourmashkin

8.S198 Special Subject: Physics
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
Lecture: TR2-3.30 (13-1143)
______
Opportunity for group study of subjects in physics not otherwise included in the curriculum.
W. Barletta
No textbook information available

8.S199 Special Subject: Physics
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Opportunity for group study of subjects in physics not otherwise included in the curriculum.
Staff

8.S227 Special Subject: Physics
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Opportunity for group study of subjects in physics not otherwise included in the curriculum.
Staff

8.S271 Special Subject: Physics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Opportunity for group study of subjects in physics not otherwise included in the curriculum.
R. Redwine

8.S30 Special Subject: Physics
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Opportunity for group study of subjects in physics not otherwise included in the curriculum.
A. Frebel

8.S50 Special Subject: Physics
______

Undergrad (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Opportunity for group study of subjects in physics not otherwise included in the curriculum.
Staff

8.UR Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Research opportunities in physics. For further information, contact the departmental UROP coordinator.
Fall: Winslow, Lindley
IAP: Winslow, Lindley
Spring: Winslow, Lindley
Summer: Winslow, Lindley
Textbooks arranged individually

8.THU Undergraduate Physics Thesis
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research leading to the writing of an S.B. thesis; to be arranged by the student under approved supervision.
Fall: Winslow, Lindley
IAP: Winslow, Lindley
Spring: Winslow, Lindley
Summer: Winslow, Lindley
Textbooks arranged individually


left arrow | 8.01-8.299 plus UROP and THU | 8.300-8.999 plus THG | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 9: Brain and Cognitive Sciences
IAP/Spring 2025


9.00 Introduction to Psychological Science
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR2-3.30 (32-123) Recitation: W10 (46-1015) or W4 (46-1015) or W EVE (7 PM) (46-1015) or R12 (46-3037) or R4 (46-1015) or R EVE (7 PM) (46-1015) or F10 (46-1015) or F11 (46-1015) or F1 (46-3037) or F2 (46-3037) or R4 (46-3037)
______
A survey of the scientific study of human nature, including how the mind works, and how the brain supports the mind. Topics include the mental and neural bases of perception, emotion, learning, memory, cognition, child development, personality, psychopathology, and social interaction. Consideration of how such knowledge relates to debates about nature and nurture, free will, consciousness, human differences, self, and society.
J. D. Gabrieli
No required or recommended textbooks

9.01 Introduction to Neuroscience
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to the mammalian nervous system, with emphasis on the structure and function of the human brain. Topics include the function of nerve cells, sensory systems, control of movement, learning and memory, and diseases of the brain.
M. Bear

9.011 Systems Neuroscience Core I
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 6-0-12
______
Survey of brain and behavioral studies. Examines principles underlying the structure and function of the nervous system, with a focus on systems approaches. Topics include development of the nervous system and its connections, sensory systems of the brain, the motor system, higher cortical functions, and behavioral and cellular analyses of learning and memory. Preference to first-year graduate students in BCS.
R. Desimone, E. K. Miller

9.012 Cognitive Science
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 6-0-12
Lecture: TR1-4 (46-4199)
______
Intensive survey of cognitive science. Topics include visual perception, language, memory, cognitive architecture, learning, reasoning, decision-making, and cognitive development. Topics covered from behavioral, computational, and neural perspectives.
E. Gibson, P. Sinha, J. Tenenbaum
No textbook information available

9.013[J] Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Core II
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 7.68[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (46-4062)
______
Survey and primary literature review of major areas in molecular and cellular neurobiology. Covers genetic neurotrophin signaling, adult neurogenesis, G-protein coupled receptor signaling, glia function, epigenetics, neuronal and homeostatic plasticity, neuromodulators of circuit function, and neurological/psychiatric disease mechanisms. Includes lectures and exams, and involves presentation and discussion of primary literature. 9.015 recommended, though the core subjects can be taken in any sequence.
G. Feng, L.-H. Tsai
No textbook information available

9.014 Quantitative Methods and Computational Models in Neurosciences
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-1-8
______
Provides theoretical background and practical skills needed to analyze and model neurobiological observations at the molecular, systems and cognitive levels. Develops an intuitive understanding of mathematical tools and computational techniques which students apply to analyze, visualize and model research data using MATLAB programming. Topics include linear systems and operations, dimensionality reduction (e.g., PCA), Bayesian approaches, descriptive and generative models, classification and clustering, and dynamical systems. Limited to 18; priority to current BCS Graduate students.
M. Jazayeri, A. Rebei

9.015[J] Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Core I
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 7.65[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Survey and primary literature review of selected major topic areas in molecular and cellular neurobiology. Covers nervous system development, axonal pathfinding, synapse formation and function, synaptic plasticity, ion channels and receptors, cellular neurophysiology, glial cells, sensory transduction, and relevant examples in human disease. Includes lectures and weekly paper write-ups, together with student presentations and discussion of primary literature. A final two-page research write-up is also due at the end of the term.
J. T. Littleton, M. Sheng, B. Weissbourd

9.016[J] Introduction to Sound, Speech, and Hearing
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as HST.714[J])
Prereq: (6.3000 and 8.03) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduces students to the acoustics, anatomy, physiology, and mechanics related to speech and hearing. Focuses on how humans generate and perceive speech. Topics related to speech, explored through applications and challenges involving acoustics, speech recognition, and speech disorders, include acoustic theory of speech production, basic digital speech processing, control mechanisms of speech production and basic elements of speech and voice perception. Topics related to hearing include acoustics and mechanics of the outer ear, middle ear, and cochlea, how pathologies affect their function, and methods for clinical diagnosis. Surgical treatments and medical devices such as hearing aids, bone conduction devices, and implants are also covered.
S. Ghosh, H. Nakajima, S. Puria

9.017 Systems Neuroscience Core II
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 18.06 or (9.011 and 9.014)
Units: 2-2-8
______
Covers systems and computational neuroscience topics relevant to understanding how animal brains solve a wide range of cognitive tasks. Focuses on experimental approaches in systems neuroscience (behavioral design, parametric stimulus control, recording techniques) and theory-driven analyses (dynamical systems, control theory, Bayesian theory), both at the level of behavioral and neural data. Also focuses on regional organization (cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia, midbrain, and cerebellum), along with traditional divisions in systems neuroscience: sensory systems, motor systems, and associative systems.
Staff

9.021[J] Cellular Neurophysiology and Computing
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.794[J], 6.4812[J], 20.470[J], HST.541[J])
(Subject meets with 2.791[J], 6.4810[J], 9.21[J], 20.370[J])
Prereq: (Physics II (GIR), 18.03, and (2.005, 6.2000, 6.3000, 10.301, or 20.110)) or permission of instructor
Units: 5-2-5
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Integrated overview of the biophysics of cells from prokaryotes to neurons, with a focus on mass transport and electrical signal generation across cell membrane. First third of course focuses on mass transport through membranes: diffusion, osmosis, chemically mediated, and active transport. Second third focuses on electrical properties of cells: ion transport to action potential generation and propagation in electrically excitable cells. Synaptic transmission. Electrical properties interpreted via kinetic and molecular properties of single voltage-gated ion channels. Final third focuses on biophysics of synaptic transmission and introduction to neural computing. Laboratory and computer exercises illustrate the concepts. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
Staff

9.07 Statistics for Brain and Cognitive Science
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 6.100B
Units: 4-0-8
______
Provides students with the basic tools for analyzing experimental data, properly interpreting statistical reports in the literature, and reasoning under uncertain situations. Topics organized around three key theories: probability, statistical, and the linear model. Probability theory covers axioms of probability, discrete and continuous probability models, law of large numbers, and the Central Limit Theorem. Statistical theory covers estimation, likelihood theory, Bayesian methods, bootstrap and other Monte Carlo methods, as well as hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, elementary design of experiments principles and goodness-of-fit. The linear model theory covers the simple regression model and the analysis of variance. Places equal emphasis on theory, data analyses, and simulation studies.
E. Brown

9.073[J] Statistics for Neuroscience Research
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as HST.460[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
A survey of statistical methods for neuroscience research. Core topics include introductions to the theory of point processes, the generalized linear model, Monte Carlo methods, Bayesian methods, multivariate methods, time-series analysis, spectral analysis and state-space modeling. Emphasis on developing a firm conceptual understanding of the statistical paradigm and statistical methods primarily through analyses of actual experimental data.
E. N. Brown

9.09[J] Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 7.29[J])
Prereq: 7.05 or 9.01
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (46-3310) Recitation: F12 (46-3310) +final
______
Introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system. Emphasizes the cellular properties of neurons and other excitable cells. Includes the structure and biophysical properties of excitable cells, synaptic transmission, neurochemistry, neurodevelopment, integration of information in simple systems, and detection and information coding during sensory transduction.
T. Littleton, S. Prescott
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

9.110[J] Nonlinear Control
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.152[J])
Prereq: 2.151, 6.7100, 16.31, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (5-234)
______
Introduction to nonlinear control and estimation in physical and biological systems. Nonlinear stability theory, Lyapunov analysis, Barbalat's lemma. Feedback linearization, differential flatness, internal dynamics. Sliding surfaces. Adaptive nonlinear control and estimation. Multiresolution bases, nonlinear system identification. Contraction analysis, differential stability theory. Nonlinear observers. Asynchronous distributed computation and learning. Concurrent synchronization, polyrhythms. Monotone nonlinear systems. Emphasizes application to physical systems (robots, aircraft, spacecraft, underwater vehicles, reaction-diffusion processes, machine vision, oscillators, internet), machine learning, computational neuroscience, and systems biology. Includes term projects.
J. Slotine
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

9.12 Experimental Molecular Neurobiology
______

Undergrad (Spring) Institute Lab
Prereq: Biology (GIR) and 9.01
Units: 2-4-6
Lecture: T3-5 (46-1015) Lab: F1-5 (46-1024)
______
Experimental techniques in cellular and molecular neurobiology. Designed for students without previous experience in techniques of cellular and molecular biology. Experimental approaches include DNA manipulation, molecular cloning, protein biochemistry, dissection and culture of brain cells, synaptic protein analysis, immunocytochemistry, and fluorescent microscopy. One lab session plus one paper review session per week. Instruction and practice in written communication provided. Enrollment limited.
G. Choi
No textbook information available

9.123[J] Neurotechnology in Action
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 20.203[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-6-3
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (46-4062)
______
Offers a fast-paced introduction to numerous laboratory methods at the forefront of modern neurobiology. Comprises a sequence of modules focusing on neurotechnologies that are developed and used by MIT research groups. Each module consists of a background lecture and 1-2 days of firsthand laboratory experience. Topics typically include optical imaging, optogenetics, high throughput neurobiology, MRI/fMRI, advanced electrophysiology, viral and genetic tools, and connectomics.
E. Boyden, M. Jonas
No textbook information available

9.13 The Human Brain
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 9.00, 9.01, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (46-3002) +final
______
Surveys the core perceptual and cognitive abilities of the human mind and asks how these are implemented in the brain. Key themes include the functional organization of the cortex, as well as the representations and computations, developmental origins, and degree of functional specificity of particular cortical regions. Emphasizes the methods available in human cognitive neuroscience, and what inferences can and cannot be drawn from each.
N. Kanwisher
No textbook information available

9.17 Systems Neuroscience Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall) Institute Lab
Prereq: 9.01 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-4-6
______
Consists of a series of laboratories designed to give students experience with basic techniques for conducting systems neuroscience research. Includes sessions on anatomical, neurophysiological, and data acquisition and analysis techniques, and how these techniques are used to study nervous system function. Involves the use of experimental animals. Assignments include weekly preparation for lab sessions, two major lab reports and a series of basic computer programming tutorials (MATLAB). Instruction and practice in written communication provided.  Enrollment limited.
Frawley

9.175[J] Robotics
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.165[J])
Prereq: 2.151 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to robotics and learning in machines. Kinematics and dynamics of rigid body systems. Adaptive control, system identification, sparse representations. Force control, adaptive visual servoing. Task planning, teleoperation, imitation learning. Navigation. Underactuated systems, approximate optimization and control. Dynamics of learning and optimization in networks. Elements of biological planning and control. Motor primitives, entrainment, active sensing, binding models. Term projects.
J-J Slotine

9.18[J] Developmental Neurobiology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 7.49[J])
(Subject meets with 7.69[J], 9.181[J])
Prereq: 7.03, 7.05, 9.01, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (46-3037) Recitation: T4 (46-3037)
______
Considers molecular control of neural specification, formation of neuronal connections, construction of neural systems, and the contributions of experience to shaping brain structure and function. Topics include: neural induction and pattern formation, cell lineage and fate determination, neuronal migration, axon guidance, synapse formation and stabilization, activity-dependent development and critical periods, development of behavior. Students taking graduate version complete additional readings that will be addressed in their mid-term and final exams.
E. Nedivi, S. Prescott
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

9.181[J] Developmental Neurobiology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 7.69[J])
(Subject meets with 7.49[J], 9.18[J])
Prereq: 9.011 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (46-3037) Recitation: T4 (46-3037)
______
Considers molecular control of neural specification, formation of neuronal connections, construction of neural systems, and the contributions of experience to shaping brain structure and function. Topics include: neural induction and pattern formation, cell lineage and fate determination, neuronal migration, axon guidance, synapse formation and stabilization, activity-dependent development and critical periods, development of behavior. In addition to final exam, analysis and presentation of research papers required for final grade. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students taking graduate version complete additional readings that will be addressed in their mid-term and final exams.
E. Nedivi, S. Prescott
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

9.19 Computational Psycholinguistics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 9.190)
Prereq: (6.100B and (6.3700, 9.40, or 24.900)) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduces computational approaches to natural language processing and acquisition by humans and machines, combining symbolic and probabilistic modeling techniques. Covers models such as n-grams, finite state automata, and context-free and mildly context-sensitive grammars, for analyzing phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and larger document structure. Applications range from accurate document classification and sentence parsing by machine to modeling human language acquisition and real-time understanding. Covers both theory and contemporary computational tools and datasets. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

9.190 Computational Psycholinguistics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 9.19)
Prereq: (6.100B and (6.3702, 9.40, or 24.900)) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduces computational approaches to natural language processing and acquisition by humans and machines, combining symbolic and probabilistic modeling techniques. Covers models such as n-grams, finite state automata, and context-free and mildly context-sensitive grammars, for analyzing phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and larger document structure. Applications range from accurate document classification and sentence parsing by machine to modeling human language acquisition and real-time understanding. Covers both theory and contemporary computational tools and datasets. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. P. Levy

9.21[J] Cellular Neurophysiology and Computing
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.791[J], 6.4810[J], 20.370[J])
(Subject meets with 2.794[J], 6.4812[J], 9.021[J], 20.470[J], HST.541[J])
Prereq: (Physics II (GIR), 18.03, and (2.005, 6.2000, 6.3000, 10.301, or 20.110)) or permission of instructor
Units: 5-2-5
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Integrated overview of the biophysics of cells from prokaryotes to neurons, with a focus on mass transport and electrical signal generation across cell membrane. First third of course focuses on mass transport through membranes: diffusion, osmosis, chemically mediated, and active transport. Second third focuses on electrical properties of cells: ion transport to action potential generation and propagation in electrically excitable cells. Synaptic transmission. Electrical properties interpreted via kinetic and molecular properties of single voltage-gated ion channels. Final third focuses on biophysics of synaptic transmission and introduction to neural computing. Laboratory and computer exercises illustrate the concepts. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Preference to juniors and seniors.
Staff

9.24 Disorders and Diseases of the Nervous System
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: (7.29 and 9.01) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: F1-4 (46-3310) +final
______
Topics examined include regional functional anatomy of the CNS; brain systems and circuits; neurodevelopmental disorders including autism; neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia; neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's; autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis; gliomas. Emphasis on diseases for which a molecular mechanism is understood. Diagnostic criteria, clinical and pathological findings, genetics, model systems, pathophysiology, and treatment are discussed for individual disorders and diseases. Limited to 18.
M. Sur
No textbook information available

9.26[J] Principles and Applications of Genetic Engineering for Biotechnology and Neuroscience
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 20.205[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: F10-1 (BROAD INSTITUT)
______
Covers principles underlying current and future genetic engineering approaches, ranging from single cellular organisms to whole animals. Focuses on development and invention of technologies for engineering biological systems at the genomic level, and applications of engineered biological systems for medical and biotechnological needs, with particular emphasis on genetic manipulation of the nervous system. Design projects by students.
F. Zhang
No textbook information available

9.271[J] Pioneering Technologies for Interrogating Complex Biological Systems
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 10.562[J], HST.562[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (46-6199)
______
Introduces pioneering technologies in biology and medicine and discusses their underlying biological/molecular/engineering principles. Topics include emerging sample processing technologies, advanced optical imaging modalities, and next-gen molecular phenotyping techniques. Provides practical experience with optical microscopy and 3D phenotyping techniques. Limited to 15.
K. Chung
No textbook information available

9.272[J] Topics in Neural Signal Processing
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as HST.576[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Presents signal processing and statistical methods used to study neural systems and analyze neurophysiological data. Topics include state-space modeling formulated using the Bayesian Chapman-Kolmogorov system, theory of point processes, EM algorithm, Bayesian and sequential Monte Carlo methods. Applications include dynamic analyses of neural encoding, neural spike train decoding, studies of neural receptive field plasticity, algorithms for neural prosthetic control, EEG and MEG source localization. Students should know introductory probability theory and statistics.
E. N. Brown
No textbook information available

9.285[J] Audition: Neural Mechanisms, Perception and Cognition
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as HST.723[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 6-0-6
Begins 1/27. Follows fas schedule. Mee 403a to begin term. 46-5193 to complete term. Lecture: MWF9.30-11.30 (46-5193)
______
Neural structures and mechanisms mediating the detection, localization and recognition of sounds. General principles are conveyed by theme discussions of auditory masking, sound localization, musical pitch, cochlear implants, cortical plasticity and auditory scene analysis. Follows Harvard FAS calendar.
A. Takesian, J. McDermott, D. Polley, D. Mehta
No textbook information available

9.301[J] Neural Plasticity in Learning and Memory
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 7.98[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examination of the role of neural plasticity during learning and memory of invertebrates and mammals. Detailed critical analysis of the current literature of molecular, cellular, genetic, electrophysiological, and behavioral studies. Student-directed presentations and discussions of original papers supplemented by introductory lectures. Juniors and seniors require instructor's permission.
Staff

9.32 Genes, Circuits, and Behavior
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 7.29, 9.16, 9.18, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on understanding molecular and cellular mechanisms of circuitry development, function and plasticity, and their relevance to normal and abnormal behaviors/psychiatric disorders. Highlights cutting-edge technologies for neuroscience research. Students build professional skills through presentations and critical evaluation of original research papers.
G. Feng

9.34[J] Biomechanics and Neural Control of Movement
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.183[J])
(Subject meets with 2.184)
Prereq: 2.004 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (1-242)
______
Presents a quantitative description of how biomechanical and neural factors interact in human sensory-motor behavior. Students survey recent literature on how motor behavior is controlled, comparing biological and robotic approaches to similar tasks. Topics may include a review of relevant neural, muscular and skeletal physiology, neural feedback and "equilibrium-point" theories, co-contraction strategies, impedance control, kinematic redundancy, optimization, intermittency, contact tasks and tool use. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
N. Hogan
No textbook information available

9.35 Perception
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 9.01 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (46-3189) Recitation: F11 (46-5313) +final
______
Studies how the senses work and how physical stimuli are transformed into signals in the nervous system. Examines how the brain uses those signals to make inferences about the world, and uses illusions and demonstrations to gain insight into those inferences. Emphasizes audition and vision, with some discussion of touch, taste, and smell. Provides experience with psychophysical methods.
J. McDermott
No required or recommended textbooks

9.357 Current Topics in Perception
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-7
Lecture: M3-5 (32-262)
______
Advanced seminar on issues of current interest in human and machine vision. Topics vary from year to year. Participants discuss current literature as well as their ongoing research.
E. H. Adelson
No textbook information available

9.36 Neurobiology of Self
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 9.360)
Prereq: 9.01
Units: 3-0-9
______
Discusses the neurobiological mechanisms that distinguish "the Self" from external environment; the neural circuits that enable us to know that "the Self" is in pain, or feels hungry, thirsty, and tired; and the neurons and circuits that lead to the emotional and moody Self. Examines brain mechanism that encodes the body schema and the Self in space. This includes the neural computations that allow, for example, the hand to know where the mouth is. Discusses the possibility of making robots develop a sense of Self, as well as disorders and delusions of the Self. Contemporary research — ranging from molecules, cells, circuits, to systems in both animal models and humans — explored. Students in the graduate version do additional classwork or projects.
F. Wang

9.360 Neurobiology of Self
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 9.36)
Prereq: 9.01
Units: 3-0-9
______
Discusses the neurobiological mechanisms that distinguish "the Self" from external environment; the neural circuits that enable us to know that "the Self" is in pain, or feels hungry, thirsty, and tired; and the neurons and circuits that lead to the emotional and moody Self. Examines brain mechanism that encodes the body schema and the Self in space. This includes the neural computations that allow, for example, the hand to know where the mouth is. Discusses the possibility of making robots develop a sense of Self, as well as disorders and delusions of the Self. Contemporary research — ranging from molecules, cells, circuits, to systems in both animal models and humans — explored. Students in the graduate version do additional classwork or projects.
F. Wang

9.39 Language in the Mind and Brain
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 9.390)
Prereq: 9.00, 9.01, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Surveys the core mental abilities — and their neural substrates — that support language, and situates them within the broader landscape of human cognition. Topics explored include: how structured representations are extracted from language; the nature of abstract concepts and how they relate to words; the nature of the brain mechanisms that support language vs. other structured and/or meaningful inputs, like music, mathematical expressions, or pictures; the relationship between language and social cognition; how language is processed in individuals who speak multiple languages; how animal communication systems and artificial neural network language models differ from human language. Draws on evidence from diverse approaches and populations, focusing on cutting-edge research. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

9.390 Language in the Mind and Brain
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 9.39)
Prereq: 9.00, 9.01, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Surveys the core mental abilities — and their neural substrates — that support language, and situates them within the broader landscape of human cognition. Topics explored include: how structured representations are extracted from language; the nature of abstract concepts and how they relate to words; the nature of the brain mechanisms that support language vs. other structured and/or meaningful inputs, like music, mathematical expressions, or pictures; the relationship between language and social cognition; how language is processed in individuals who speak multiple languages; how animal communication systems and artificial neural network language models differ from human language. Draws on evidence from diverse approaches and populations, focusing on cutting-edge research. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. Fedorenko

9.40 Introduction to Neural Computation
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: (Physics II (GIR), 6.100B, and 9.01) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR10-12 (46-3189) +final
______
Introduces quantitative approaches to understanding brain and cognitive functions. Topics include mathematical description of neurons, the response of neurons to sensory stimuli, simple neuronal networks, statistical inference and decision making. Also covers foundational quantitative tools of data analysis in neuroscience: correlation, convolution, spectral analysis, principal components analysis. Mathematical concepts include simple differential equations and linear algebra.
J. DiCarlo
No required or recommended textbooks

9.401 Tools for Robust Science
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T9-12 (46-3037)
______
New tools are being developed to improve credibility, facilitate collaboration, accelerate scientific discovery, and expedite translation of results. Students (i) identify obstacles to conducting robust cognitive and neuroscientific research, (ii) practice using current cutting-edge tools designed to overcome these obstacles by improving scientific practices and incentives, and (iii) critically evaluate these tools' potential and limitations. Example tools investigated include shared pre-registration, experimental design, data management plans, meta-data standards, repositories, FAIR code, open-source data processing pipelines, alternatives to scientific paper formats, alternative publishing agreements, citation audits, reformulated incentives for hiring and promotion, and more. 
R. Saxe
No textbook information available

9.41 Research and Communication in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 9.URG and permission of instructor
Units: 2-12-4
______
Emphasizes research and scientific communication. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Based on results of his/her UROP research, each student creates a full-length paper and a poster as part of an oral presentation at the end of the term. Other assignments include peer editing and reading/critiquing published research papers. Prior to starting class, students must have collected enough data from their UROP research projects to write a paper. Limited to juniors and seniors.
M. Wilson

9.42 The Brain and Its Interface with the Body
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 7.28, 7.29, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers a range of topics, such as brain-immune system interaction, the gut-brain axis, and bioengineering approaches for studying the brain and its interactions with different organs. Explores how these interactions may be involved in nervous system disease processes.
F. Zhang

9.422[J] Principles of Neuroengineering
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 20.452[J], MAS.881[J])
(Subject meets with 20.352)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers how to innovate technologies for brain analysis and engineering, for accelerating the basic understanding of the brain, and leading to new therapeutic insight and inventions. Focuses on using physical, chemical and biological principles to understand technology design criteria governing ability to observe and alter brain structure and function. Topics include optogenetics, noninvasive brain imaging and stimulation, nanotechnologies, stem cells and tissue engineering, and advanced molecular and structural imaging technologies. Includes design projects. Designed for students with engineering maturity who are ready for design. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. S. Boyden, III

9.455[J] Revolutionary Ventures: How to Invent and Deploy Transformative Technologies
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 15.128[J], 20.454[J], MAS.883[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-7
______
Seminar on envisioning and building ideas and organizations to accelerate engineering revolutions. Focuses on emerging technology domains, such as neurotechnology, imaging, cryotechnology, gerontechnology, and bio-and-nano fabrication. Draws on historical examples as well as live case studies of existing or emerging organizations, including labs, institutes, startups, and companies. Goals range from accelerating basic science to developing transformative products or therapeutics. Each class is devoted to a specific area, often with invited speakers, exploring issues from the deeply technical through the strategic. Individually or in small groups, students prototype new ventures aimed at inventing and deploying revolutionary technologies.
E. Boyden, J. Bonsen, J. Jacobson

9.48[J] Philosophical Issues in Brain Science
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 24.08[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
An introduction to some central philosophical questions about the mind, specifically those intimately connected with contemporary psychology and neuroscience. Discussions focus on arguments over innate concepts; 'mental images' as pictures in the head; whether color is in the mind or in the world; and whether there can be a science of consciousness. Explains the relevant parts of psychology and neuroscience as the subject proceeds.
Staff

9.49 Neural Circuits for Cognition
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 9.490)
Prereq: 9.40, 18.06, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Takes a computational approach to examine circuits in the brain that perform elemental cognitive tasks: tasks that are neither directly sensory nor directly motor in function, but are essential to bridging from perception to action. Covers circuits and circuit motifs in the brain that underlie computations like integration, decision-making, spatial navigation, inference, and other cognitive elements. Students study empirical results, build dynamical models of neural circuits, and examine the mathematical theory of representations and computation in such circuits. Considers noise, stability, plasticity, and learning rules for these systems. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
I. Fiete

9.490 Neural Circuits for Cognition
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 9.49)
Prereq: 9.40, 18.06, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Takes a computational approach to examine circuits in the brain that perform elemental cognitive tasks: tasks that are neither directly sensory nor directly motor in function, but are essential to bridging from perception to action. Covers circuits and circuit motifs in the brain that underlie computations like integration, decision-making, spatial navigation, inference, and other cognitive elements. Students study empirical results, build dynamical models of neural circuits, and examine the mathematical theory of representations and computation in such circuits. Considers noise, stability, plasticity, and learning rules for these systems. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
I. Fiete


left arrow | 9.00-9.499 | 9.50-9.999 plus Thesis, UROP | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 10: Chemical Engineering
IAP/Spring 2025


10.00 Molecule Builders
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 1-3-2
Lecture: T1 (E18-676) Lab: R2-5 (E18-676)
______
Project-based introduction to the applications of engineering design at the molecular level. Working in teams, students complete an open-ended design project that focuses on a topic such as reactor or biomolecular engineering, chemical process design, materials and polymers, or energy. Provides students practical exposure to the field of chemical engineering as well as potential opportunities to continue their project designs in national/international competitions. Limited to 36; preference to first year students.
J. Abraham
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

10.000 Engineering Molecular Marvels: Careers and ChemE at MIT
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-0 [P/D/F]
______
Exposes students to the ways in which chemical technologies have profoundly altered the course of history. Discusses the next century's great challenges, such as curing cancer and supplying the planet's surging demand for clean water, food and energy, sustainably. Provides an overview of how ChemE students apply fundamental engineering principles and leverage technology, from molecules to systems, in the pursuit of practical solutions for these problems and more. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students.
Staff

10.01 Ethics for Engineers
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.082, 2.900, 6.9320, 10.01, 16.676)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Credit cannot also be received for 7.105, 20.005
URL: https://e4e.mit.edu/
Lecture: M3-5 (66-148) or T3-5 (66-148) or W3-5 (66-148) or W EVE (7-9 PM) (66-148)
______
Explores how to be an ethical engineer. Students examine engineering case studies alongside key readings by foundational ethical thinkers from Aristotle to Martin Luther King, Jr., and investigate which ethical approaches are best and how to apply them. Topics include justice, rights, cost-benefit analysis, safety, bias, genetic engineering, climate change, and the promise and peril of AI. Discussion-based, with the aim of introducing students to new ways of thinking. All sections cover the same core ethical frameworks, but some sections have a particular focus for case studies, such as bioengineering, or have an in-depth emphasis on particular thinkers. The subject is taught in separate sections. Students are eligible to take any section regardless of their registered subject number. For 20.005, students additionally undertake an ethical-technical analysis of a BE-related topic of their choosing.
Fall: B. L. Trout, P. Hansen, D. Lauffenburger, K. Hansen
Spring: P. Hansen, L. Guarente, D. Lauffenburger, K. Hansen
No textbook information available

10.02 Foundations of Entrepreneurship for Engineers
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies economic and leadership foundations of entrepreneurship as they relate to engineering. Case studies illustrate major impacts of engineering on the world and examine the leaders responsible for such impacts. Authors include Franklin, Keynes, Leonardo, Lincoln, Locke, Machiavelli, Marx, Schmidt, Schumpeter, Smith, Thiel, and Tocqueville. Discusses topics such as the difference between an entrepreneur and a manager, the entrepreneur as founder, and characteristics of principled entrepreneurship.
Staff

10.03[J] Advances in Biomanufacturing
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 7.458[J])
(Subject meets with 7.548[J], 10.53[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR11-12.30 (66-148)
______
Seminar examines how biopharmaceuticals, an increasingly important class of pharmaceuticals, are manufactured. Topics range from fundamental bioprocesses to new technologies to the economics of biomanufacturing. Also covers the impact of globalization on regulation and quality approaches as well as supply chain integrity. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. C. Love, A. Sinskey, S. Springs
No textbook information available

10.04 A Philosophical History of Energy
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Philosophic and historical approach to conceptions of energy through the 19th century. Relation of long standing scientific and philosophic problems in the field of energy to 21st-century debates. Topics include the development of thermodynamics and kinetic theories, the foundation of the scientific project, the classical view of energy, and the harnessing of nature. Authors include Bacon, Boltzmann, Carnot, Compte, Descartes, Gibbs, Plato, Aristotle, Leibniz, Kant, Hegel, Mill, Peirce, Whitehead, and Maxwell. Key texts and controversies form topics of weekly writing assignments and term papers.
Staff

10.05 Foundational Analyses of Problems in Energy and the Environment
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Investigates key texts and papers on the foundational thought of current issues in energy and environmental science. Builds an understanding of key debates (scientific, ethical, and political). Aims to inform solutions to key problems related to procurement of energy and environmental degradation. Topics address alternative energy technologies and fossil fuel utilization and emissions, especially carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide sequestration, and geoengineering. Foundational readings from Homer and Greek playwrights, Aristotle, Genesis, Bacon, Locke, Rousseau, Coleridge, Carnot, Clausius, Marx, Heidegger, Carson, Gore, Singer, and Brundtland. Assignments include weekly analyses of readings, videos and related engineering calculations in addition to a final project. Limited to 18.
Staff

10.06 Advanced Topics in Ethics for Engineers
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 10.01, 10.05, or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
In-depth study of varying advanced topics in ethics for engineers. Focuses on foundational works and their significance for the choices that engineers make, both as students and as practicing engineers. Each semester, different works and topics, based on current and perennial issues in ethics and engineering, will be chosen in order to explore facets of the extremely complex and varied subject of the place of engineering for the individual and society. Examples of topics include genetic engineering and what it means to be human, artificial intelligence and thought, the scope and limits of engineering, and engineering and freedom. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Limited to 20.
Staff

10.07[J] Debating About Society and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21W.733[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Presents basic principles of argumentation and persuasive communication, and introduces students to thought-provoking, persuasive texts about science and engineering. Analysis of texts and practices together with case studies form the basis for students' weekly assignments. Students debate such topics as the future of biotechnology, genetic engineering, AI, climate change, social bias, and the connection between engineering and society. Includes oral presentations. Limited to 18.
B. L. Trout, K. Hansen, E. Schiappa

10.08 Cultural Studies for Chemical Engineering Graduate Students
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Seminar explores some of the key cultural developments of human beings and their related engineering aspects together with insights into the evolution of chemical engineering. Begins with discussion of Warren K. Lewis on culture and civilization, in addition to other chemical engineering luminaries, Rutherford Aris and John Prausnitz, and Sam Florman. Following their leads, seminar addresses key developments in Greek culture, followed by Renaissance culture, and culminating with contemporary culture. Discusses the influence of chemical engineering throughout the term, but focuses on broader cultural understanding as advocated by Lewis and Aris. Weekly meetings and study question responses are complemented with direct experience of culture and its connection to engineering. Includes guests with various expertise in culture and chemical engineering.
B. L. Trout

10.09[J] Models of Molecular Systems: from Newtonian Mechanics to Machine Learning
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 5.008[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
Lecture: R3-5 (66-148)
______
Seminar-style subject concentrating on modeling creatively while understanding the intrinsic limitations of modeling and alternative ways of envisioning the world. Addresses the purpose of models from different perspectives, with a focus on open-ended problems and creative solutions. Investigates ancient and contemporary approaches, starting with the limitations of Newtonian mechanics to treat molecular systems and solutions provided by statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics, including their use in computations and simulations, and Aristotle's approach. Also covers machine learning and its limitations. Foundational readings inform the analyses with applications including molecular science, color, motion, biology, and nature broadly. Work consists of weekly assignments, class participation, and a final project.
B. L. Trout
No textbook information available

10.10 Introduction to Chemical Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR) and Physics I (GIR); Coreq: 18.03
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MWF2 (66-154) Recitation: T11 (56-154) +final
______
Explores the diverse applications of chemical engineering through example problems designed to build computer skills and familiarity with the elements of engineering design. Solutions require application of fundamental concepts of mass and energy conservation to batch and continuous systems involving chemical and biological processes. Problem-solving exercises distributed among lectures and recitation.
Fall: H. J. Kulik, T. A. Kinney, J. Gu
Spring: T. Kinney
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

10.213 Chemical and Biological Engineering Thermodynamics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 5.601 and 10.10
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (66-110) Recitation: W10 (66-160) or W11 (66-160) +final
______
Thermodynamics of multicomponent, multiphase chemical and biological systems. Applications of first, second, and third laws of thermodynamics to open and closed systems. Properties of mixtures, including colligative properties, chemical reaction equilibrium, and phase equilibrium; non-ideal solutions; power cycles; refrigeration; separation systems.
W. Tisdale, J. Gu
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

10.22 Molecular Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 5.60 and 10.213
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces molecular concepts in relation to engineering thermodynamics. Includes topics in statistical mechanics, molecular description of gases and liquids, property estimation, description of equilibrium and dynamic properties of fluids from molecular principles, and kinetics of activated processes. Also covers some basic aspects of molecular simulation and applications in systems of engineering interest.
Staff

10.25 Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Process Pathways
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR), 10.213, and 10.37
Units: 3-0-6
______
Chemical and engineering principles involved in creation and operation of viable industrial processes. Topics: analysis of process chemistry by p-pathways (i.e., radical, ionic, and pericyclic reactions of organic syntheses) and d-pathways (i.e., catalysis by transition-metal complexes). Use of reaction mechanisms for inference of co-product formation, kinetics, and equilibria: process synthesis logic related to reaction selectivity, recycle, separations. Illustrations drawn from current and contemplated commercial practice.
Staff

10.258[J] Principles of Innovation
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 5.812[J])
(Subject meets with 5.82[J], 10.582[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TF9.30-11 (45-102)
______
Presents the key elements required for new technical ideas and business practices to be successfully deployed in an open economy, subject to international trade and external environmental costs. Examines the challenges of climate change and increased international competitiveness as they relate to innovation. Offers recommendations for major policy changes to how innovation is encouraged in the United States and the global economy. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Deutch
No required or recommended textbooks

10.26 Chemical Engineering Projects Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 10.27, 10.29)
Prereq: (10.302 and (2.671, 5.310, 7.003, 12.335, 20.109, (1.106 and 1.107), or (5.351, 5.352, and 5.353))) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-8-4
Lecture: TR1-5 (4-370) Lab: TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA
______
Projects in applied chemical engineering research. Students work in teams on one project for the term. Projects often suggested by local industry. Includes training in project planning and project management, execution of experimental work, data analysis, oral presentation, individual and collaborative report writing.
G. C. Rutledge, T. A. Kinney, A. Mariotta
No required or recommended textbooks

10.27 Energy Engineering Projects Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 10.26, 10.29)
Prereq: (10.302 and (2.671, 5.310, 7.003, 12.335, 20.109, (1.106 and 1.107), or (5.351, 5.352, and 5.353))) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-8-4
Lecture: TR1-5 (4-370) Lab: TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA
______
Projects in applied energy engineering research. Students work in teams on one project for the term. Projects often suggested by local industry. Includes training in project planning and project management, execution of experimental work, data analysis, oral presentation, individual and collaborative report writing. Preference to Energy Studies minors.
B. Olsen, M. Strano
No required or recommended textbooks

10.28 Chemical-Biological Engineering Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: ((5.07 or 7.05) and (5.310 or 7.003)) or permission of instructor
Units: 2-8-5
Credit cannot also be received for 10.28B
______
Introduces the complete design of the bioprocess: from vector selection to production, separation, and characterization of recombinant products. Utilize concepts from many fields, such as, chemical and electrical engineering, and biology. Student teams work through parallel modules spanning microbial fermentation and animal cell culture. With the bioreactor at the core of the experiments, students study cell metabolism and biological pathways, kinetics of cell growth and product formation, oxygen mass transport, scale-up and techniques for the design of process control loops. Introduces novel bioreactors and powerful analytical instrumentation. Downstream processing and recombinant product purification also included. Credit cannot also be received for 10.28A. Enrollment limited.
J. Hamel

10.28A Chemical-Biological Engineering Laboratory I: Introduction to Lab Experiments
______

Undergrad (IAP, Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: ((5.07 or 7.05) and (5.310 or 7.003)) or permission of instructor
Units: 1-3-0
______
First in a two-subject sequence that spans IAP and spring term, and covers the same content as 10.28; see 10.28 for description. Course utilizes online learning technologies and simulations in addition to traditional lab experiments. 10.28A comprises the major lab portion of the subject.  Credit cannot also be received for 10.28. Enrollment limited.
Staff

10.28B Chemical-Biological Engineering Laboratory II: Long-term, Online and Simulated Experiments
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 10.28A
Units: 1-2-8
Credit cannot also be received for 10.28
______
Second in a two-subject sequence that spans IAP and spring term, and covers the same content as 10.28; see 10.28 for description. Course utilizes online learning technologies and simulations in addition to traditional lab experiments. 10.28B comprises the simulation portion of the subject, and most of the communication component. Enrollment limited.
Staff

10.29 Biological Engineering Projects Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 10.26, 10.27)
Prereq: (10.302 and (2.671, 5.310, 7.003, 12.335, 20.109, (1.106 and 1.107), or (5.351, 5.352, and 5.353))) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-8-4
Lecture: TR1-5 (4-370) Lab: TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA or TBA
______
Projects in applied biological engineering research. Students work in teams on one project for the term. Projects often suggested by local industry. Includes training in project planning and project management, execution of experimental work, data analysis, oral presentation, individual and collaborative report writing.
J-F Hamel, B. Dekosky
No required or recommended textbooks

10.291[J] Introduction to Sustainable Energy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.650[J], 22.081[J])
(Subject meets with 1.818[J], 2.65[J], 10.391[J], 11.371[J], 22.811[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
______
Assessment of current and potential future energy systems. Covers resources, extraction, conversion, and end-use technologies, with emphasis on meeting 21st-century regional and global energy needs in a sustainable manner. Examines various renewable and conventional energy production technologies, energy end-use practices and alternatives, and consumption practices in different countries. Investigates their attributes within a quantitative analytical framework for evaluation of energy technology system proposals. Emphasizes analysis of energy propositions within an engineering, economic and social context. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to juniors and seniors.
Staff

10.301 Fluid Mechanics
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: 10.10 and 18.03
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR12-1.30 (66-110) Recitation: M11 (66-144) or M12 (66-144) +final
______
Introduces the mechanical principles governing fluid flow. Stress in a fluid. Conservation of mass and momentum, using differential and integral balances. Elementary constitutive equations. Hydrostatics. Exact solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations. Approximate solutions using control volume analysis. Mechanical energy balances and Bernoulli's equation. Dimensional analysis and dynamic similarity. Introduces boundary-layer theory and turbulence.
F. Brushett, J. Drake
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

10.302 Transport Processes
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: (5.601, 10.213, and 10.301) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Principles of heat and mass transfer. Steady and transient conduction and diffusion. Radiative heat transfer. Convective transport of heat and mass in both laminar and turbulent flows. Emphasis on the development of a physical understanding of the underlying phenomena and upon the ability to solve real heat and mass transfer problems of engineering significance.
K. Chung, B. DeKosky

10.31 Nanoscale Energy Transport Processes
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 10.51)
Prereq: ((2.51 or 10.302) and (3.033 or 5.61)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the impact of nanoscale phenomena on macroscale transport of energy-carrying molecules, phonons, electrons, and excitons. Studies the effect of structural and energetic disorder, wave-like vs. particle-like transport, quantum and classical size effects, and quantum coherence. Emphasizes quantitative analysis, including the Boltzmann transport equation, Einstein relation, Wiedemann-Franz law, and Marcus electron transfer theory. Also addresses percolation theory and the connection to energy conversion technologies, such as solar cells, thermoelectrics, and LEDs. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
W. A. Tisdale

10.32 Separation Processes
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 10.213 and 10.302
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (66-110) +final
______
General principles of separation by equilibrium and rate processes. Staged cascades. Applications to distillation, absorption, adsorption, and membrane processes. Use of material balances, phase equilibria, and diffusion to understand and design separation processes.
Z. Smith, J. Abraham
No textbook information available

10.321 Design Principles in Mammalian Systems and Synthetic Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 10.521)
Prereq: 7.05 and 18.03
Units: 3-0-6
______
Focuses on the layers of design, from molecular to large networks, in mammalian biology. Formally introduces concepts in the emerging fields of mammalian systems and synthetic biology, including engineering principles in neurobiology and stem cell biology. Exposes advanced students from quantitative backgrounds to problem-solving opportunities at the interface of molecular biology and engineering. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
K. E. Galloway

10.333 Introduction to Modeling and Simulation
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.021, 3.021, 10.333, 22.00)
Prereq: 18.03 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR3-4.30 (4-231) Recitation: W3 (4-153)
______
Basic concepts of computer modeling and simulation in science and engineering. Uses techniques and software for simulation, data analysis and visualization. Continuum, mesoscale, atomistic and quantum methods used to study fundamental and applied problems in physics, chemistry, materials science, mechanics, engineering, and biology. Examples drawn from the disciplines above are used to understand or characterize complex structures and materials, and complement experimental observations.
M. Buehler, A. Hoffman
No textbook information available

10.34 Numerical Methods Applied to Chemical Engineering
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Numerical methods for solving problems arising in heat and mass transfer, fluid mechanics, chemical reaction engineering, and molecular simulation. Topics: numerical linear algebra, solution of nonlinear algebraic equations and ordinary differential equations, solution of partial differential equations (e.g., Navier-Stokes), numerical methods in molecular simulation (dynamics, geometry optimization). All methods are presented within the context of chemical engineering problems. Familiarity with structured programming is assumed.
C. Coley

10.345 Fundamentals of Metabolic and Biochemical Engineering: Applications to Biomanufacturing
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 10.545)
Prereq: 5.07, 7.05, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the fundamentals of cell and metabolic engineering for biocatalyst design and optimization, as well as biochemical engineering principles for bioreactor design and operation, and downstream processing. Presents applications of microbial processes for production of commodity and specialty chemicals and biofuels in addition to mammalian cell cultures for production of biopharmaceuticals. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

10.352 Modern Control Design
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 10.552)
Prereq: 18.03 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Covers modern methods for dynamical systems analysis, state estimation, controller design, and related topics. Uses example applications to demonstrate Lyapunov and linear matrix inequality-based methods that explicitly address actuator constraints, nonlinearities, and model uncertainties. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.  Limited to 30.
R. D. Braatz

10.353 Model Predictive Control
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 10.553)
Prereq: 18.03 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Provides an introduction to the multivariable control of dynamical systems with constraints on manipulated, state, and output variables. Covers multiple mathematical formulations that are popular in academia and industry, including dynamic matrix control and state-space model predictive control of uncertain, nonlinear, and large-scale systems. Uses numerous real industrial processes as examples. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

10.354[J] Process Data Analytics
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.874[J])
(Subject meets with 2.884[J], 10.554[J])
Prereq: 18.03 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Provides an introduction to data analytics for manufacturing processes. Topics include chemometrics, discriminant analysis, hyperspectral imaging, machine learning, big data, Bayesian methods, experimental design, feature spaces, and pattern recognition as relevant to manufacturing process applications (e.g., output estimation, process control, and fault detection, identification and diagnosis). Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. D. Braatz, B. Anthony

10.37 Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 10.213 and 10.302
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11 (66-110) Recitation: W11 (66-144) +final
______
Applies the concepts of reaction rate, stoichiometry and equilibrium to the analysis of chemical and biological reacting systems. Derivation of rate expressions from reaction mechanisms and equilibrium or steady state assumptions. Design of chemical and biochemical reactors via synthesis of chemical kinetics, transport phenomena, and mass and energy balances. Topics: chemical/biochemical pathways; enzymatic, pathway and cell growth kinetics; batch, plug flow and well-stirred reactors for chemical reactions and cultivations of microorganisms and mammalian cells; heterogeneous and enzymatic catalysis; heat and mass transport in reactors, including diffusion to and within catalyst particles and cells or immoblized enzymes.
H. J. Kulik, D. Wittrup
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

10.380[J] Viruses, Pandemics, and Immunity
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 5.002[J], HST.438[J])
(Subject meets with 5.003[J], 8.245[J], 10.382[J], HST.439[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1
______
Covers the history of infectious diseases, basics of virology, immunology, and epidemiology, and ways in which diagnostic tests, vaccines, and antiviral therapies are currently designed and manufactured. Examines the origins of inequities in infection rates in society, and issues pertinent to vaccine safety. Final project explores how to create a more pandemic-resilient world. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Preference to first-year students; all others should take HST.439.
A. Chakraborty

10.382[J] Viruses, Pandemics, and Immunity
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 5.003[J], 8.245[J], HST.439[J])
(Subject meets with 5.002[J], 10.380[J], HST.438[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1
______
Covers the history of infectious diseases, basics of virology, immunology, and epidemiology, and ways in which diagnostic tests, vaccines, and antiviral therapies are currently designed and manufactured. Examines the origins of inequities in infection rates in society, and issues pertinent to vaccine safety. Final project explores how to create a more pandemic-resilient world. HST.438 intended for first-year students; all others should take HST.439.
A. Chakraborty

10.390[J] Fundamentals of Advanced Energy Conversion
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.60[J])
(Subject meets with 2.62[J], 10.392[J], 22.40[J])
Prereq: 2.006, (2.051 and 2.06), or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW12.30-2.30 (3-133)
______
Fundamentals of thermodynamics, chemistry, and transport applied to energy systems. Analysis of energy conversion and storage in thermal, mechanical, chemical, and electrochemical processes in power and transportation systems, with emphasis on efficiency, performance, and environmental impact. Applications to fuel reforming and alternative fuels, hydrogen, fuel cells and batteries, combustion, catalysis, combined and hybrid power cycles using fossil, nuclear and renewable resources. CO2 separation and capture. Biomass energy. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Ghoniem
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

10.391[J] Sustainable Energy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.818[J], 2.65[J], 11.371[J], 22.811[J])
(Subject meets with 2.650[J], 10.291[J], 22.081[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
______
Assessment of current and potential future energy systems. Covers resources, extraction, conversion, and end-use technologies, with emphasis on meeting 21st-century regional and global energy needs in a sustainable manner. Examines various energy technologies in each fuel cycle stage for fossil (oil, gas, synthetic), nuclear (fission and fusion) and renewable (solar, biomass, wind, hydro, and geothermal) energy types, along with storage, transmission, and conservation issues. Emphasizes analysis of energy propositions within an engineering, economic and social context. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

10.392[J] Fundamentals of Advanced Energy Conversion
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.62[J], 22.40[J])
(Subject meets with 2.60[J], 10.390[J])
Prereq: 2.006, (2.051 and 2.06), or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW12.30-2.30 (3-133)
______
Fundamentals of thermodynamics, chemistry, and transport applied to energy systems. Analysis of energy conversion and storage in thermal, mechanical, chemical, and electrochemical processes in power and transportation systems, with emphasis on efficiency, performance and environmental impact. Applications to fuel reforming and alternative fuels, hydrogen, fuel cells and batteries, combustion, catalysis, combined and hybrid power cycles using fossil, nuclear and renewable resources. CO2 separation and capture. Biomass energy. Meets with 2.60 when offered concurrently; students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Ghoniem
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

10.40 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 10.213
Units: 4-0-8
______
Basic postulates of classical thermodynamics. Application to transient open and closed systems. Criteria of stability and equilibria. Constitutive property models of pure materials and mixtures emphasizing molecular-level effects using the formalism of statistical mechanics. Phase and chemical equilibria of multicomponent systems. Applications emphasized through extensive problem work relating to practical cases.
B. Olsen

10.407[J] Money for Startups
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 2.916[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW1-2.30 (66-168)
______
Introduction to the substance and process of funding technology startups. Topics include a comparative analysis of various sources of capital; templates to identify the optimal investor; legal frameworks, US and offshore, of the investment process and its related jargon; an introduction to understanding venture capital as a business; and market practice and standards for term sheet negotiation. Emphasizes strategy as well as tactics necessary to negotiate and build effective, long-term relationships with investors, particularly venture capital firms (VCs).
S. Loessberg
No textbook information available

10.421[J] Energy Systems for Climate Change Mitigation
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.067[J], IDS.065[J])
(Subject meets with 1.670[J], 10.621[J], IDS.521[J])
Prereq: (Calculus I (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics I (GIR)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Reviews the contributions of energy systems to global greenhouse gas emissions, and the levers for reducing those emissions. Lectures and projects focus on evaluating energy systems against climate policy goals, using performance metrics such as cost, carbon intensity, and others. Student projects explore pathways for realizing emissions reduction scenarios. Projects address the climate change mitigation potential of energy technologies (hardware and software), technological and behavioral change trajectories, and technology and policy portfolios. Background in energy systems strongly recommended. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments and explore the subject in greater depth. Preference to students in the Energy Studies or Environment and Sustainability minors.
J. Trancik

10.424 Pharmaceutical Engineering
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 10.524)
Prereq: 10.213
Units: 3-0-6
______
Presents engineering principles and unit operations involved in the manufacture of small molecules pharmaceuticals, from the isolation of purified active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) to the final production of drug product. Regulatory issues include quality by design and process analytical technologies of unit operations, such as crystallization, filtration, drying, milling, blending, granulation, tableting and coating. Also covers principles of formulation for solid dosage forms and parenteral drugs. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 50.
A. S. Myerson

10.426 Electrochemical Energy Systems
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 10.626)
Prereq: 10.302 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces electrochemical energy systems from the perspective of thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport. Surveys analysis and design of electrochemical reactions and processes by integrating chemical engineering fundamentals with knowledge from diverse fields, including chemistry, electrical engineering, and materials science. Includes applications to fuel cells, electrolyzers, and batteries. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Z. Bazant

10.43 Introduction to Interfacial Phenomena
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 10.213 or introductory subject in thermodynamics or physical chemistry
Units: 3-0-6
______
Introduces fundamental and applied aspects of interfacial systems. Theory of capillarity. Experimental determination of surface and interfacial tensions. Thermodynamics of interfaces. The Gibbs adsorption equation. Charged interfaces. Surfactant adsorption at interfaces. Insoluble monolayers. Curvature effects on the equilibrium state of fluids. Nucleation and growth. Fundamentals of wetting and contact angle. Adhesion, cohesion, and spreading. Wetting of textured surfaces. Super-hydrophilic and super-hydrophobic surfaces. Self-cleaning surfaces.
Staff

10.437[J] Computational Chemistry
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 5.697[J])
(Subject meets with 5.698[J], 10.637[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Addresses both the theory and application of first-principles computer simulations methods (i.e., quantum, chemical, or electronic structure), including Hartree-Fock theory, density functional theory, and correlated wavefunction methods. Covers enhanced sampling, ab initio molecular dynamics, and transition-path-finding approaches as well as errors and accuracy in total and free energies. Discusses applications such as the study and prediction of properties of chemical systems, including heterogeneous, molecular, and biological catalysts (enzymes), and physical properties of materials. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 35; no listeners.
H. J. Kulik

10.441[J] Molecular and Engineering Aspects of Biotechnology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 7.37[J], 20.361[J])
Prereq: (7.06 and (2.005, 3.012, 5.60, or 20.110)) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 7.371
______
Covers biological and bioengineering principles underlying the development and therapeutic use of recombinant proteins and stem cells; glycoengineering of recombinant proteins; normal and pathological signaling by growth factors and their receptors; receptor trafficking; monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics; protein pharmacology and delivery; stem cell-derived tissues as therapeutics; RNA therapeutics; combinatorial protein engineering; and new antitumor drugs.
Staff

10.442 Biochemical Engineering and Biomanufacturing Principles
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 10.542)
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), 5.07, and 10.37) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Explores the interactions of chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, and microbiology with particular emphasis on applications to bioprocess development. Examines mathematical representations of microbial systems, especially with regard to the kinetics of growth, death, and metabolism. Discusses the fundamentals of bioreactor design and operation, including continuous fermentation, mass transfer, and agitation. Examples encompass both enzyme and whole cell systems. Presents concepts in process development for microbial and animal cell cultures, with considerations towards production of biological products ranging from chiral specialty chemicals/pharmaceuticals to therapeutic proteins. Concludes with a discussion of aspects of cellular engineering and the role of molecular biology in addressing process development problems.
K. J. Prather, J. Leung

10.443 Future Medicine: Drug Delivery, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 10.643[J], HST.526[J])
Prereq: 5.12 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Aims to describe the direction and future of medical technology. Introduces pharmaceutics, pharmacology, and conventional medical devices, then transitions to drug delivery systems, mechanical/electric-based and biological/cell-based therapies, and sensors. Covers nano- and micro drug delivery systems, including polymer-drug conjugates, protein therapeutics, liposomes and polymer nanoparticles, viral and non-viral genetic therapy, and tissue engineering. Previous coursework in cell biology and organic chemistry recommended. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 40.
Staff

10.450 Process Dynamics, Operations, and Control
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 10.302 and 18.03
Units: 3-0-6
______
Introduction to dynamic processes and the engineering tasks of process operations and control. Subject covers modeling the static and dynamic behavior of processes; control strategies; design of feedback, feedforward, and other control structures; model-based control; applications to process equipment.
Staff

10.466 Structure of Soft Matter
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 10.566)
Prereq: 5.60
Units: 3-0-6
______
Provides an introduction to the basic thermodynamic language used for describing the structure of materials, followed by a survey of the scattering, microscopy and spectroscopic techniques for structure and morphology characterization. Applies these concepts to a series of case studies illustrating the diverse structures formed in soft materials and the common length, time and energy scales that unify this field. For students interested in studying polymer science, colloid science, nanotechnology, biomaterials, and liquid crystals. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

10.467 Polymer Science Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 5.12 and (5.310, 7.003, 20.109, or permission of instructor)
Units: 2-7-6
______
Experiments broadly aimed at acquainting students with the range of properties of polymers, methods of synthesis, and physical chemistry. Examples: solution polymerization of acrylamide, bead polymerization of divinylbenzene, interfacial polymerization of nylon 6,10. Evaluation of networks by tensile and swelling experiments. Rheology of polymer solutions and suspensions. Physical properties of natural and silicone rubber. Preference to Course 10 seniors and juniors.
Z. Smith

10.489 Concepts in Modern Heterogeneous Catalysis
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 10.689)
Prereq: 10.302 and 10.37
Units: 3-0-6
______
Explores topics in the design and implementation of heterogeneous catalysts for chemical transformations. Emphasizes use of catalysis for environmentally benign and sustainable chemical processes. Lectures address concepts in catalyst preparation, catalyst characterization, quantum chemical calculations, and microkinetic analysis of catalytic processes. Shows how experimental and theoretical approaches can illustrate important reactive intermediates and transition states involved in chemical reaction pathways, and uses that information to help identify possible new catalysts that may facilitate reactions of interest. Draws examples from current relevant topics in catalysis. Includes a group project in which students investigate a specific topic in greater depth. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

10.490 Integrated Chemical Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 10.37
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: MWF10 (66-156)
______
Presents and solves chemical engineering problems in an industrial context. Emphasis on the integration of fundamental concepts with approaches in process design, and on problems that demand synthesis, economic analysis, and process design; consideration of safety analysis, process dynamics and the use of process simulators and related tools to approach such problems. The specific application of these fundamental concepts will vary each term, and may include chemical, electrochemical, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical (biologic) or related processes, operated in batch, semi-batch, continuous or hybrid mode. May be repeated once for credit with permission of instructor.
Fall: T. A. Kinney, B. S. Johnston
Spring: C. Cooney. C. Love
No required or recommended textbooks

10.492A Integrated Chemical Engineering Topics I
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit; first half of term
Prereq: 10.301 and permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Chemical engineering problems presented and analyzed in an industrial context. Emphasizes the integration of fundamentals with material property estimation, process control, product development, and computer simulation. Integration of societal issues, such as engineering ethics, environmental and safety considerations, and impact of technology on society are addressed in the context of case studies. 10.37 and 10.302 required for certain topic modules. See departmental website for individual ICE-T module descriptions.
F. Brushett

10.492B Integrated Chemical Engineering Topics I
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Prereq: 10.301 and permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Chemical engineering problems presented and analyzed in an industrial context. Emphasizes the integration of fundamentals with material property estimation, process control, product development, and computer simulation. Integration of societal issues, such as engineering ethics, environmental and safety considerations, and impact of technology on society are addressed in the context of case studies. 10.37 and 10.302 required for certain topic modules. See departmental website for individual ICE-T module descriptions.
H. Sikes

10.493 Integrated Chemical Engineering Topics II
______

Undergrad (IAP); partial term
Prereq: 10.301 and permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Chemical engineering problems presented and analyzed in an industrial context. Emphasizes the integration of fundamentals with material property estimation, process control, product development, and computer simulation. Integration of societal issues, such as engineering ethics, environmental and safety considerations, and impact of technology on society are addressed in the context of case studies. 10.37 and 10.302 required for certain topic modules. See departmental website for individual ICE-T module descriptions.
J. Drake
No textbook information available

10.494A Integrated Chemical Engineering Topics III
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit; first half of term
Prereq: 10.301 and permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: MWF11 (66-168)
______
Chemical engineering problems presented and analyzed in an industrial context. Emphasizes the integration of fundamentals with material property estimation, process control, product development, and computer simulation. Integration of societal issues, such as engineering ethics, environmental and safety considerations, and impact of technology on society are addressed in the context of case studies. 10.37 and 10.302 required for certain topic modules. See departmental website for individual ICE-T module descriptions.
D. Anderson
No textbook information available

10.494B Integrated Chemical Engineering Topics III
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 10.301 and permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Chemical engineering problems presented and analyzed in an industrial context. Emphasizes the integration of fundamentals with material property estimation, process control, product development, and computer simulation. Integration of societal issues, such as engineering ethics, environmental and safety considerations, and impact of technology on society are addressed in the context of case studies. 10.37 and 10.302 required for certain topic modules. See departmental website for individual ICE-T module descriptions.
Staff

10.495 Molecular Design and Bioprocess Development of Immunotherapies
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 10.595)
Prereq: 7.06 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Examines challenges and opportunities for applying chemical engineering principles to address the growing global burden of infectious disease, including drug-resistant strains and neglected pathogens. Topics include a historical overview of vaccines and immunotherapies, the molecular design considerations for new immunotherapies and adjuvants, the economic challenges for process development and manufacturing of immunotherapies, and new technologies for designing and assessing therapies. Case studies to cover topics for specific diseases. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. C. Love

10.496[J] Design of Sustainable Polymer Systems
______

Undergrad (IAP)
(Same subject as 1.096[J])
Prereq: (10.213 and 10.301) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Capstone subject in which students are charged with redesigning consumable plastics to improve their recyclability and illustrate the potential future of plastic sourcing and management. Students engage with industry partners and waste handlers to delineate the design space and understand downstream limitations in waste treatment. Instruction includes principles of plastic design, polymer selection, cost estimation, prototyping, and the principles of sustainable material design. Students plan and propose routes to make enhanced plastic kits. Industry partners and course instructors select winning designs. Those students can elect to proceed to a semester of independent study in which prototype kits are fabricated (using polymer extrusion, cutting, 3D printing), potentially winning seed funds to translate ideas into real impacts. Preference to juniors and seniors in Courses 10, 1, and 2.
B. D. Olsen, D. Plata
No textbook information available

10.50 Analysis of Transport Phenomena
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 10.301 and 10.302
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MWF1-2.30 (66-110) Recitation: W EVE (5-7 PM) (66-144)
______
Unified treatment of heat transfer, mass transfer, and fluid mechanics, emphasizing scaling concepts in formulating models and analytical methods for obtaining solutions. Topics include conduction and diffusion, laminar flow regimes, convective heat and mass transfer, and simultaneous heat and mass transfer with chemical reaction or phase change.
M. Z. Bazant, M. Qi
No textbook information available

10.51 Nanoscale Energy Transport Processes
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 10.31)
Prereq: ((2.51 or 10.302) and (3.033 or 5.61)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the impact of nanoscale phenomena on macroscale transport of energy-carrying molecules, phonons, electrons, and excitons. Studies the effect of structural and energetic disorder, wave-like vs. particle-like transport, quantum and classical size effects, and quantum coherence. Emphasizes quantitative analysis, including the Boltzmann transport equation, Einstein relation, Wiedemann-Franz law, and Marcus electron transfer theory. Also addresses percolation theory and the connection to energy conversion technologies, such as solar cells, thermoelectrics, and LEDs. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
W. A. Tisdale

10.52 Mechanics of Fluids
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 10.50
Units: 3-0-6
______
Advanced subject in fluid and continuum mechanics. Content includes kinematics, macroscopic balances for linear and angular momentum, the stress tensor, creeping flows and the lubrication approximation, the boundary layer approximation, linear stability theory, and some simple turbulent flows.
M. Qi

10.521 Design Principles in Mammalian Systems and Synthetic Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 10.321)
Prereq: (7.05 and 18.03) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Focuses on the layers of design, from molecular to large networks, in mammalian biology. Formally introduces concepts in the emerging fields of mammalian systems and synthetic biology, including engineering principles in neurobiology and stem cell biology. Exposes advanced students from quantitative backgrounds to problem-solving opportunities at the interface of molecular biology and engineering. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
K. E. Galloway

10.524 Pharmaceutical Engineering
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 10.424)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Presents engineering principles and unit operations involved in the manufacture of small molecules pharmaceuticals, from the isolation of purified active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) to the final production of drug product. Regulatory issues include quality by design and process analytical technologies of unit operations, such as crystallization, filtration, drying, milling, blending, granulation, tableting and coating. Also covers principles of formulation for solid dosage forms and parenteral drugs. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 50.
A. S. Myerson

10.53[J] Advances in Biomanufacturing
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 7.548[J])
(Subject meets with 7.458[J], 10.03[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR11-12.30 (66-148)
______
Seminar examines how biopharmaceuticals, an increasingly important class of pharmaceuticals, are manufactured. Topics range from fundamental bioprocesses to new technologies to the economics of biomanufacturing. Also covers the impact of globalization on regulation and quality approaches as well as supply chain integrity. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Sinskey, S. Springs
No textbook information available

10.531[J] Macromolecular Hydrodynamics
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.341[J])
Prereq: 2.25, 10.301, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (1-190)
______
Physical phenomena in polymeric liquids undergoing deformation and flow. Kinematics and material functions for complex fluids; techniques of viscometry, rheometry; and linear viscoelastic measurements for polymeric fluids. Generalized Newtonian fluids. Continuum mechnanics, frame invariance, and convected derivatives for finite strain viscoelasticity. Differential and integral constitutive equations for viscoelastic fluids. Analytical solutions to isothermal and non-isothermal flow problems; the roles of non-Newtonian viscosity, linear viscoelasticity, normal stresses, elastic recoil, stress relaxation in processing flows. Introduction to molecular theories for dynamics of polymeric fluids. (Extensive class project and presentation required instead of a final exam).
G. McKinley
No textbook information available

10.534 Bioelectrochemistry
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (66-148)
______
Provides an overview of electrochemistry as it relates to biology, with an emphasis on electron transport in living systems. Primary literature used as a guide for discussion. Objective is to enable students to learn the fundamental principles of electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering applied to biological systems, explore the role of electron transfer in the natural world using examples from the primary literature, analyze recent work related to bioelectrochemistry, and develop an original research proposal based on course material. Topics include thermodynamics and transport processes in bioelectrical systems, electron transport chains in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, electroanalytical techniques for the evaluation of biological systems, and engineering bioenergetic systems.
A. L. Furst
No textbook information available

10.535[J] Protein Engineering
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 20.535[J])
Prereq: 18.03 and (5.07 or 7.05)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the field of protein engineering. Develops understanding of key biophysical chemistry concepts in protein structure/function and their applications. Explores formulation of simple kinetic, statistical, and transport models for directed evolution and drug biodistribution. Students read and critically discuss seminal papers from the literature.
K. D. Wittrup

10.536[J] Thermal Hydraulics in Power Technology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.59[J], 22.313[J])
Prereq: 2.006, 10.302, 22.312, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-2-7
______
Emphasis on thermo-fluid dynamic phenomena and analysis methods for conventional and nuclear power stations. Kinematics and dynamics of two-phase flows. Steam separation. Boiling, instabilities, and critical conditions. Single-channel transient analysis. Multiple channels connected at plena. Loop analysis including single and two-phase natural circulation. Subchannel analysis.
M. Bucci

10.537[J] Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.798[J], 3.971[J], 6.4842[J], 20.410[J])
(Subject meets with 2.797[J], 3.053[J], 6.4840[J], 20.310[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR) and 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (4-237)
______
Develops and applies scaling laws and the methods of continuum mechanics to biomechanical phenomena over a range of length scales. Topics include structure of tissues and the molecular basis for macroscopic properties; chemical and electrical effects on mechanical behavior; cell mechanics, motility and adhesion; biomembranes; biomolecular mechanics and molecular motors. Experimental methods for probing structures at the tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Bathe, P. So, R. Raman
No textbook information available

10.538[J] Principles of Molecular Bioengineering
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 20.420[J])
Prereq: 7.06 and 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to the mechanistic analysis and engineering of biomolecules and biomolecular systems. Covers methods for measuring, modeling, and manipulating systems, including biophysical experimental tools, computational modeling approaches, and molecular design. Equips students to take systematic and quantitative approaches to the investigation of a wide variety of biological phenomena.
A. Jasanoff, E. Fraenkel

10.539[J] Fields, Forces, and Flows in Biological Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.795[J], 6.4832[J], 20.430[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Molecular diffusion, diffusion-reaction, conduction, convection in biological systems; fields in heterogeneous media; electrical double layers; Maxwell stress tensor, electrical forces in physiological systems. Fluid and solid continua: equations of motion useful for porous, hydrated biological tissues. Case studies of membrane transport, electrode interfaces, electrical, mechanical, and chemical transduction in tissues, convective-diffusion/reaction, electrophoretic, electroosmotic flows in tissues/MEMs, and ECG. Electromechanical and physicochemical interactions in cells and biomaterials; musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and other biological and clinical examples. Prior undergraduate coursework in transport recommended.
C. Buie, A. Hansen

10.540 Intracellular Dynamics
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 7.06, 10.302, 18.03, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers current models and descriptions of the internal cell dynamics of macromolecules due to reaction and transport. Two major areas will be explored: the process of gene expression, including protein-DNA interactions, chromatin dynamics, and the stochastic nature of gene expression; and cell signaling systems, especially those that lead to or rely on intracellular protein gradients. This class is intended for graduate students or advanced undergraduates with some background in cell biology, transport, and kinetics. An introductory class in probability is recommended.
Staff

10.542 Biochemical Engineering and Biomanufacturing Principles
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 10.442)
Prereq: (5.07, 10.37, and (7.012, 7.013, 7.014, 7.015, or 7.016)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Explores the interactions of chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, and microbiology with particular emphasis on applications to bioprocess development. Examines mathematical representations of microbial systems, especially with regard to the kinetics of growth, death, and metabolism. Discusses the fundamentals of bioreactor design and operation, including continuous fermentation, mass transfer, and agitation. Examples encompass both enzyme and whole cell systems. Presents concepts in process development for microbial and animal cell cultures, with considerations towards production of biological products ranging from chiral specialty chemicals/pharmaceuticals to therapeutic proteins. Concludes with a discussion of aspects of cellular engineering and the role of molecular biology in addressing process development problems.
K. J. Prather, J. Leung

10.544 Metabolic and Cell Engineering
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 7.05, 10.302, and 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
______
Presentation of a framework for quantitative understanding of cell functions as integrated molecular systems. Analysis of cell-level processes in terms of underlying molecular mechanisms based on thermodynamics, kinetics, mechanics, and transport principles, emphasizing an engineering, problem-oriented perspective. Objective is to rationalize target selection for genetic engineering and evaluate the physiology of recombinant cells. Topics include cell metabolism and energy production, transport across cell compartment barriers, protein synthesis and secretion, regulation of gene expression, transduction of signals from extracellular environment, cell proliferation, cell adhesion and migration.
Staff

10.545 Fundamentals of Metabolic and Biochemical Engineering: Applications to Biomanufacturing
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 10.345)
Prereq: 5.07, 7.05, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the fundamentals of cell and metabolic engineering for biocatalyst design and optimization, as well as biochemical engineering principles for bioreactor design and operation, and downstream processing. Presents applications of microbial processes for production of commodity and specialty chemicals and biofuels in addition to mammalian cell cultures for production of biopharmaceuticals. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

10.546[J] Statistical Thermodynamics
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 5.70[J])
Prereq: 5.601 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Develops classical equilibrium statistical mechanical concepts for application to chemical physics problems. Basic concepts of ensemble theory formulated on the basis of thermodynamic fluctuations. Examples of applications include Ising models, lattice models of binding, ionic and non-ionic solutions, liquid theory, polymer and protein conformations, phase transition, and pattern formation. Introduces computational techniques with examples of liquid and polymer simulations.
B. Zhang, J. Cao

10.547[J] Principles and Practice of Drug Development
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 15.136[J], HST.920[J], IDS.620[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Description and critical assessment of the major issues and stages of developing a pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical. Drug discovery, preclinical development, clinical investigation, manufacturing and regulatory issues considered for small and large molecules. Economic and financial considerations of the drug development process. Multidisciplinary perspective from faculty in clinical; life; and management sciences; as well as industry guests.
S. Finkelstein

10.548[J] Tumor Microenvironment and Immuno-Oncology: A Systems Biology Approach
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as HST.525[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Provides theoretical background to analyze and synthesize the most up-to-date findings from both laboratory and clinical investigations into solid tumor pathophysiology. Covers different topics centered on the critical role that the tumor microenvironment plays in the growth, invasion, metastasis and treatment of solid tumors. Develops a systems-level, quantitative understanding of angiogenesis, extracellular matrix, metastatic process, delivery of drugs and immune cells, and response to conventional and novel therapies, including immunotherapies. Discussions provide critical comments on the challenges and the future opportunities in research on cancer and in establishment of novel therapeutic approaches and biomarkers to guide treatment.
R. K. Jain, L. Munn

10.55 Colloid and Surfactant Science
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Introduces fundamental and applied aspects of colloidal dispersions, where the typical particle size is less than a micrometer. Discusses the characterization and unique behavior of colloidal dispersions, including their large surface-to-volume ratio, tendency to sediment in gravitational and centrifugal fields, diffusion characteristics, and ability to generate osmotic pressure and establish Donnan equilibrium. Covers the fundamentals of attractive van der Waals forces and repulsive electrostatic forces. Presents an in-depth discussion of electrostatic and polymer-induced colloid stabilization, including the DLVO theory of colloid stability. Presents an introductory discussion of surfactant physical chemistry.
D. Blankschtein

10.551 Systems Engineering
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 10.213, 10.302, and 10.37
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (56-114)
______
Introduction to the elements of systems engineering. Special attention devoted to those tools that help students structure and solve complex problems. Illustrative examples drawn from a broad variety of chemical engineering topics, including product development and design, process development and design, experimental and theoretical analysis of physico-chemical process, analysis of process operations.
R. D. Braatz, S. Shin
No textbook information available

10.552 Modern Control Design
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 10.352)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers modern methods for dynamical systems analysis, state estimation, controller design, and related topics. Uses example applications to demonstrate Lyapunov and linear matrix inequality-based methods that explicitly address actuator constraints, nonlinearities, and model uncertainties. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 30.
R. D. Braatz

10.553 Model Predictive Control
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 10.353)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to the multivariable control of dynamical systems with constraints on manipulated, state, and output variables. Covers multiple mathematical formulations that are popular in academia and industry, including dynamic matrix control and state-space model predictive control of uncertain, nonlinear, and large-scale systems. Uses numerous real industrial processes as examples. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. D. Braatz

10.554[J] Process Data Analytics
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.884[J])
(Subject meets with 2.874[J], 10.354[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Provides an introduction to data analytics for manufacturing processes. Topics include chemometrics, discriminant analysis, hyperspectral imaging, machine learning, big data, Bayesian methods, experimental design, feature spaces, and pattern recognition as relevant to manufacturing process applications (e.g., output estimation, process control, and fault detection, identification and diagnosis). Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. D. Braatz, B. Anthony

10.555[J] Bioinformatics: Principles, Methods and Applications
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as HST.940[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to bioinformatics, the collection of principles and computational methods used to upgrade the information content of biological data generated by genome sequencing, proteomics, and cell-wide physiological measurements of gene expression and metabolic fluxes. Fundamentals from systems theory presented to define modeling philosophies and simulation methodologies for the integration of genomic and physiological data in the analysis of complex biological processes. Various computational methods address a broad spectrum of problems in functional genomics and cell physiology. Application of bioinformatics to metabolic engineering, drug design, and biotechnology also discussed.
Staff

10.557 Mixed-integer and Nonconvex Optimization
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 10.34 or 15.053
Units: 3-0-9
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Presents the theory and practice of deterministic algorithms for locating the global solution of NP-hard optimization problems. Recurring themes and methods are convex relaxations, branch-and-bound, cutting planes, outer approximation and primal-relaxed dual approaches. Emphasis is placed on the connections between methods. These methods will be applied and illustrated in the development of algorithms for mixed-integer linear programs, mixed-integer convex programs, nonconvex programs, mixed-integer nonconvex programs, and programs with ordinary differential equations embedded. The broad range of engineering applications for these optimization formulations will also be emphasized. Students will be assessed on homework and a term project for which examples from own research are encouraged.
P. I. Barton

10.56 Advanced Topics in Surfactant Science
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Introduces fundamental advances and practical aspects of surfactant self-assembly in aqueous media. In-depth discussion of surfactant micellization, including statistical-thermodynamics of micellar solutions, models of micellar growth, molecular models for the free energy of micellization, and geometric packing theories. Presents an introductory examination of mixed micelle and vesicle formation, polymer-surfactant complexation, biomolecule-surfactant interactions, and micellar-assisted solubilization. Discusses molecular dynamics simulations of self-assembling systems. Covers recent advances in surfactant-induced dispersion and stabilization of colloidal particles (e.g., carbon nanotubes and graphene) in aqueous media. Examines surfactant applications in consumer products, environmental and biological separations, enhanced oil recovery using surfactant flooding, mitigation of skin irritation induced by surfactant-containing cosmetic products, and enhanced transdermal drug delivery using ultrasound and surfactants.
D. Blankschtein

10.560 Structure and Properties of Polymers
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 10.213 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Review of polymer molecular structure and bulk morphology; survey of molecular and morphological influence on bulk physical properties including non-Newtonian flow, macromolecular diffusion, gas transport in polymers, electrical and optical properties, solid-state deformation, and toughness. Case studies for product design.
Staff

10.562[J] Pioneering Technologies for Interrogating Complex Biological Systems
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 9.271[J], HST.562[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (46-6199)
______
Introduces pioneering technologies in biology and medicine and discusses their underlying biological/molecular/engineering principles. Topics include emerging sample processing technologies, advanced optical imaging modalities, and next-gen molecular phenotyping techniques. Provides practical experience with optical microscopy and 3D phenotyping techniques. Limited to 15.
K. Chung
No textbook information available

10.566 Structure of Soft Matter
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 10.466)
Prereq: 5.60
Units: 3-0-6
______
Provides an introduction to the basic thermodynamic language used for describing the structure of materials, followed by a survey of the scattering, microscopy and spectroscopic techniques for structure and morphology characterization. Applies these concepts to a series of case studies illustrating the diverse structures formed in soft materials and the common length, time and energy scales that unify this field. For students interested in studying polymer science, colloid science, nanotechnology, biomaterials, and liquid crystals. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

10.568 Physical Chemistry of Polymers
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 3.063, 3.942)
Prereq: Prereq: 10.213, 10.40, or (5.601 AND 5.602)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to polymer science from a molecular perspective. Covers topics in macromolecular confirmation and spatial extent, polymer solution thermodynamics and the theta state, linear viscoelasticity, rubber elasticity, and the thermodynamics and kinetics of formation of glasses and semicrystalline solids. Also provides a basic introduction to dynamics of macromolecules in solutions and melts, with entanglements. Presents methods for characterizing the molecular structure of polymers.
G. C. Rutledge, A. Alexander-Katz

10.569 Synthesis of Polymers
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 5.12
Units: 3-0-6
______
Studies synthesis of polymeric materials, emphasizing interrelationships of chemical pathways, process conditions, and microarchitecture of molecules produced. Chemical pathways include traditional approaches such as anionic, radical condensation, and ring-opening polymerizations. New techniques, including stable free radicals and atom transfer free radicals, new catalytic approaches to well-defined architectures, and polymer functionalization in bulk and at surfaces. Process conditions include bulk, solution, emulsion, suspension, gas phase, and batch vs continuous fluidized bed. Microarchitecture includes tacticity, molecular-weight distribution, sequence distributions in copolymers, errors in chains such as branches, head-to-head addition, and peroxide incorporation.
A. Furst

10.571[J] Atmospheric Chemistry Models & Climate
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 12.806[J])
(Subject meets with 12.306)
Prereq: (18.075 and (5.60 or 5.61)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1.30-3 (54-517)
______
Introduction to the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere including experience with computer codes. Aerosols and theories of their formation, evolution, and removal. Gas and aerosol transport from urban to continental scales. Coupled models of radiation, transport, and chemistry. Solution of inverse problems to deduce emissions and removal rates. Emissions control technology and costs. Applications to air pollution and climate. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
R. Prinn
No textbook information available

10.580 Solid-State Surface Science
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 10.213
Units: 3-0-6
______
Structural, chemical, and electronic properties of solids and solid surfaces. Analytical tools used to characterize surfaces including Auger and photoelectron spectroscopies and electron diffraction techniques. Surface thermodynamics and kinetics including adsorption-desorption, catalytic properties, and sputtering processes. Applications to microelectronics, optical materials, and catalysis.
Staff

10.582[J] Principles of Innovation
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 5.82[J])
(Subject meets with 5.812[J], 10.258[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TF9.30-11 (45-102)
______
Presents the key elements required for new technical ideas and business practices to be successfully deployed in an open economy, subject to international trade and external environmental costs. Examines the challenges of climate change and increased international competitiveness as they relate to innovation. Offers recommendations for major policy changes to how innovation is encouraged in the United States and the global economy. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Deutch
No required or recommended textbooks

10.585 Engineering Nanotechnology
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 10.213, 10.302, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Review of fundamental concepts of energy, mass and electron transport in materials confined or geometrically patterned at the nanoscale, where departures from classical laws are dominant. Specific applications to contemporary engineering challenges are discussed including problems in energy, biology, medicine, electronics, and material design.
M. Strano

10.586 Crystallization Science and Technology
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 10.213
Units: 3-0-6
______
Studies the nucleation and growth of crystals from a melt or a liquid solution and their important role in a wide range of applications, including pharmaeuticals, proteins, and semiconductor materials. Provides background information and covers topics needed to understand, perform experiments, construct and simulate mechanistic models, and design, monitor, and control crystallization processes. Limited to 30.
A. S. Myerson

10.591 Case Studies in Bioengineering
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Biology (GIR) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: T EVE (4-6 PM) (66-480) Recitation: R EVE (5 PM) (66-480)
______
Analysis and discussion of recent research in areas of bioengineering, including drug delivery, protein and tissue engineering, physiological transport, stem cell technology, and quantitative immunology by senior investigators in the Boston area. Students will read and critique papers, then have discussions with authors about their work.
C. K. Colton
No textbook information available

10.595 Molecular Design and Bioprocess Development of Immunotherapies
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 10.495)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Examines challenges and opportunities for applying chemical engineering principles to address the growing global burden of infectious disease, including drug-resistant strains and neglected pathogens. Topics include a historical overview of vaccines and immunotherapies, the molecular design considerations for new immunotherapies and adjuvants, the economic challenges for process development and manufacturing of immunotherapies, and new technologies for designing and assessing therapies. Case studies to cover topics for specific diseases. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. C. Love

10.600[J] Dimensions of Geoengineering
______

Graduate (Fall); first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.850[J], 5.000[J], 11.388[J], 12.884[J], 15.036[J], 16.645[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Familiarizes students with the potential contributions and risks of using geoengineering technologies to control climate damage from global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Discusses geoengineering in relation to other climate change responses: reducing emissions, removing CO2 from the atmosphere, and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Limited to 100.
J. Deutch, M. Zuber

10.606 Picturing Science and Engineering
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-2-2 [P/D/F]
______
Provides instruction in best practices for creating more effective graphics and photographs to support and communicate research in science and engineering. Discusses in depth specific examples from a range of scientific contexts, such as journal articles, presentations, grant submissions, and cover art. Topics include graphics for figures depicting form and structure, process, and change over time. Prepares students to create effective graphics for submissions to existing journals and calls attention to the future of published graphics with the advent of interactivity. Limited to 10.
Staff

10.621[J] Energy Systems for Climate Change Mitigation
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.670[J], IDS.521[J])
(Subject meets with 1.067[J], 10.421[J], IDS.065[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Reviews the contributions of energy systems to global greenhouse gas emissions, and the levers for reducing those emissions. Lectures and projects focus on evaluating energy systems against climate policy goals, using performance metrics such as cost, carbon intensity, and others. Student projects explore pathways for realizing emissions reduction scenarios. Projects address the climate change mitigation potential of energy technologies (hardware and software), technological and behavioral change trajectories, and technology and policy portfolios. Background in energy systems strongly recommended. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments and explore the subject in greater depth.
J. Trancik

10.625[J] Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage: Fundamentals, Materials and Applications
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 2.625[J])
Prereq: 2.005, 3.046, 3.53, 10.40, (2.051 and 2.06), or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Fundamental concepts, tools, and applications in electrochemical science and engineering. Introduces thermodynamics, kinetics and transport of electrochemical reactions. Describes how materials structure and properties affect electrochemical behavior of particular applications, for instance in lithium rechargeable batteries, electrochemical capacitors, fuel cells, photo electrochemical cells, and electrolytic cells. Discusses state-of-the-art electrochemical energy technologies for portable electronic devices, hybrid and plug-in vehicles, electrical vehicles. Theoretical and experimental exploration of electrochemical measurement techniques in cell testing, and in bulk and interfacial transport measurements (electronic and ionic resistivity and charge transfer cross the electrode-electrolyte interface).
Y. Shao-Horn

10.626 Electrochemical Energy Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 10.426)
Prereq: 10.50 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces electrochemical energy systems from the perspective of thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport. Surveys analysis and design of electrochemical reactions and processes by integrating chemical engineering fundamentals with knowledge from diverse fields, including chemistry, electrical engineering, and materials science. Includes applications to fuel cells, electrolyzers, and batteries. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Z. Bazant

10.631 Structural Theories of Polymer Fluid Mechanics
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 10.301
Units: 3-0-6
______
Structural and molecular models for polymeric liquids. Nonequilibrium properties are emphasized. Elementary kinetic theory of polymer solutions. General phase space kinetic for polymer melts and solutions. Network theories. Interrelations between structure and rheological properties.
Staff

10.637[J] Computational Chemistry
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 5.698[J])
(Subject meets with 5.697[J], 10.437[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Addresses both the theory and application of first-principles computer simulations methods (i.e., quantum, chemical, or electronic structure), including Hartree-Fock theory, density functional theory, and correlated wavefunction methods. Covers enhanced sampling, ab initio molecular dynamics, and transition-path-finding approaches as well as errors and accuracy in total and free energies. Discusses applications such as the study and prediction of properties of chemical systems, including heterogeneous, molecular, and biological catalysts (enzymes), and physical properties of materials. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 35; no listeners.
H. J. Kulik

10.643[J] Future Medicine: Drug Delivery, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as HST.526[J])
(Subject meets with 10.443)
Prereq: 5.12 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Aims to describe the direction and future of medical technology. Introduces pharmaceutics, pharmacology, and conventional medical devices, then transitions to drug delivery systems, mechanical/electric-based and biological/cell-based therapies, and sensors. Covers nano- and micro drug delivery systems, including polymer-drug conjugates, protein therapeutics, liposomes and polymer nanoparticles, viral and non-viral genetic therapy, and tissue engineering. Previous coursework in cell biology and organic chemistry recommended. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 40.
Staff

10.65 Chemical Reactor Engineering
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 10.37 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW9-11 (66-110) +final
______
Fundamentals of chemically reacting systems with emphasis on synthesis of chemical kinetics and transport phenomena. Topics include kinetics of gas, liquid, and surface reactions; quantum chemistry; transition state theory; surface adsorption, diffusion, and desorption processes; mechanism and kinetics of biological processes; mechanism formulation and sensitivity analysis. Reactor topics include nonideal flow reactors, residence time distribution and dispersion models; multiphase reaction systems; nonlinear reactor phenomena. Examples are drawn from different applications, including heterogeneous catalysis, polymerization, combustion, biochemical systems, and materials processing.
M. Strano, G. Stephanopoulos
No textbook information available

10.652[J] Kinetics of Chemical Reactions
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 5.68[J])
Prereq: 5.62, 10.37, or 10.65
Units: 3-0-6
______
Experimental and theoretical aspects of chemical reaction kinetics, including transition-state theories, molecular beam scattering, classical techniques, quantum and statistical mechanical estimation of rate constants, pressure-dependence and chemical activation, modeling complex reacting mixtures, and uncertainty/ sensitivity analyses. Reactions in the gas phase, liquid phase, and on surfaces are discussed with examples drawn from atmospheric, combustion, industrial, catalytic, and biological chemistry.
W. H. Green

10.668[J] Statistical Mechanics of Polymers
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 3.941[J])
Prereq: 10.568 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Concepts of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics applied to macromolecules: polymer conformations in melts, solutions, and gels; Rotational Isomeric State theory, Markov processes and molecular simulation methods applied to polymers; incompatibility and segregation in incompressible and compressible systems; molecular theory of viscoelasticity; relation to scattering and experimental measurements.
G. C. Rutledge, A. Alexander-Katz

10.677 Topics in Applied Microfluidics
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 10.301 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Provides an introduction to the field of microfluidics. Reviews fundamental concepts in transport phenomena and dimensional analysis, focusing on new phenomena which arise at small scales. Discusses current applications, with an emphasis on the contributions engineers bring to the field. Local and visiting experts in the field discuss their work. Limited to 30.
P. Doyle

10.689 Concepts in Modern Heterogeneous Catalysis
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 10.489)
Prereq: 10.302 and 10.37
Units: 3-0-6
______
Explores topics in the design and implementation of heterogeneous catalysts for chemical transformations. Emphasizes use of catalysis for environmentally benign and sustainable chemical processes. Lectures address concepts in catalyst preparation, catalyst characterization, quantum chemical calculations, and microkinetic analysis of catalytic processes. Shows how experimental and theoretical approaches can illustrate important reactive intermediates and transition states involved in chemical reaction pathways, and uses that information to help identify possible new catalysts that may facilitate reactions of interest. Draws examples from current relevant topics in catalysis. Includes a group project in which students investigate a specific topic in greater depth. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

10.7003[J] Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Partial Lab
(Same subject as 7.003[J])
Prereq: 7.002
Units: 2-7-3
Lecture: T1 (68-181) Lab: T2-5,R1-5 (68-074) Recitation: T11-12.30 (68-121)
______
Laboratory-based exploration of modern experimental molecular biology. Specific experimental system studied may vary from term to term, depending on instructor. Emphasizes concepts of experimental design, data analysis and communication in biology and how these concepts are applied in the biotechnology industry. Satisfies 6 units of Institute Laboratory credit. Enrollment limited; admittance may be controlled by lottery.
Fall: E. Calo, K. Knouse
Spring: L. Case, H. Moura Silva, H. Sikes
No required or recommended textbooks

10.792[J] Global Operations Leadership Seminar
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 2.890[J], 15.792[J], 16.985[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-0 [P/D/F]
Lecture: M EVE (4-6 PM) (E62-223)
______
Integrative forum in which worldwide leaders in business, finance, government, sports, and education share their experiences and insights with students aspiring to run global operations. Students play a large role in managing the seminar. Preference to LGO students.
Fall: T. Roemer
Spring: T. Roemer
No textbook information available

10.801 Project Management and Problem Solving in Academia and Industry
______

Graduate (IAP)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
______
Teaches both soft and hard skills to foster student success through one-month team projects, as part of the Master of Science in Chemical Engineering Practice (M.S.CEP) program. The same skills are expected to be valuable for problem-solving in both academic and industrial settings at large. Themes to be covered include career development, project management, leadership, project economics, techniques for problem solving, literature search, safety, professional behavior, and time management. Students participate in activities and discussions during class time, study preparatory and review materials on MITx and complete active-learning assessments between meetings, and complete a quiz at the end of the course. Enrollment will be limited to students in the School of Chemical Engineering Practice.
T. Hatton
No textbook information available

10.805[J] Technology, Law, and the Working Environment
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as IDS.436[J])
(Subject meets with 1.802[J], 1.812[J], 11.022[J], 11.631[J], IDS.061[J], IDS.541[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Addresses relationship between technology-related problems and the law applicable to work environment. National Labor Relations Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act. Toxic Substances Control Act, state worker's compensation, and suits by workers in the courts discussed. Problems related to occupational health and safety, collective bargaining as a mechanism for altering technology in the workplace, job alienation, productivity, and the organization of work addressed. Prior courses or experience in the environmental, public health, or law-related areas.
Staff

10.806 Management in Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 2.96, 6.9360, 10.806, 16.653)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-1-8
______
Introduction and overview of engineering management. Financial principles, management of innovation, technical strategy and best management practices. Case study method of instruction emphasizes participation in class discussion. Focus is on the development of individual skills and management tools. Restricted to juniors and seniors.
J-H Chun, A. Weiss

10.807[J] Innovation Teams
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.907[J], 15.371[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-4-4
______
Introduces skills and capabilities for real-world problem solving to take technology from lab to societal impact: technical and functional exploration, opportunity discovery, market understanding, value economics, scale-up, intellectual property, and communicating/working for impact across disciplines. Students work in multidisciplinary teams formed around MIT research breakthroughs, with extensive in-class coaching and guidance from faculty, lab members, and select mentors. Follows a structured approach to innovating in which everything is a variable and the product, technology, and opportunities for new ventures can be seen as an act of synthesis. Teams gather evidence that permits a fact-based iteration across multiple application domains, markets, functionalities, technologies, and products, leading to a recommendation that maps a space of opportunity and includes actionable next steps to evolve the market and technology.
L. Perez-Breva, D. Hart

10.817[J] Atmospheric Chemistry
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.84[J], 12.807[J])
Prereq: 5.601 and 5.602
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a detailed overview of the chemical transformations that control the abundances of key trace species in the Earth's atmosphere. Emphasizes the effects of human activity on air quality and climate. Topics include photochemistry, kinetics, and thermodynamics important to the chemistry of the atmosphere; stratospheric ozone depletion; oxidation chemistry of the troposphere; photochemical smog; aerosol chemistry; and sources and sinks of greenhouse gases and other climate forcers.
J. Kroll

School of Chemical Engineering Practice

10.80 (10.82, 10.84, 10.86) School of Chemical Engineering Practice -- Technical Accomplishment
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Prereq: None
Units: 0-6-0
10.80: TBA.
10.82: TBA.
10.84: TBA.
10.86: TBA.
______
Conducted at industrial field stations of the School of Chemical Engineering Practice. Group problem assignments include process development design, simulation and control, technical service, and new-product development. Grading based on technical accomplishment. Credit granted in lieu of master's thesis. See departmental descripton on School of Chemical Engineering Practice for details. Enrollment limited and subject to plant availability.
Fall: T. Hatton
Spring: T. Hatton
10.80: No textbook information available
10.82: No textbook information available
10.84: No textbook information available
10.86: No textbook information available

10.81 (10.83, 10.85, 10.87) School of Chemical Engineering Practice -- Communication Skills and Human Relations
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Prereq: None
Units: 0-6-0
10.81: TBA.
10.83: TBA.
10.85: TBA.
10.87: TBA.
______
Conducted at industrial field stations of the School of Chemical Engineering Practice. Group problem assignments include process development, design, simulation and control, technical service, and new-product development. Grading based on communication skills and human relations in group assignments. Credit granted in lieu of master's thesis; see departmental description on School of Chemical Engineering Practice for details. Enrollment limited and subject to plant availability.
Fall: T. Hatton
Spring: T. Hatton
10.81: No textbook information available
10.83: No textbook information available
10.85: No textbook information available
10.87: No textbook information available


left arrow | 10.00-10.899 | 10.90-10.999 plus THG, THU, UROP, UPOP | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 11: Urban Studies and Planning
IAP/Spring 2025


Introductory Subjects

11.001[J] Introduction to Urban Design and Development
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 4.250[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (4-370)
______
Examines the evolving structure of cities and the way that cities, suburbs, and metropolitan areas can be designed and developed. Surveys the ideas of a wide range of people who have addressed urban problems. Stresses the connection between values and design. Demonstrates how physical, social, political and economic forces interact to shape and reshape cities over time. Introduces links between urban design and urban science.
Fall: L. Vale (fall); A. Sevtsuk (spring)
Spring: L. Vale (fall); A. Sevtsuk (spring)
No textbook information available

11.002[J] Making Public Policy
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 17.30[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Examines how the struggle among competing advocates shapes the outputs of government. Considers how conditions become problems for government to solve, why some political arguments are more persuasive than others, why some policy tools are preferred over others, and whether policies achieve their goals. Investigates the interactions among elected officials, think tanks, interest groups, the media, and the public in controversies over global warming, urban sprawl, Social Security, health care, education, and other issues.
A. Campbell

11.003[J] Methods of Policy Analysis
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 17.303[J])
Prereq: 11.002; Coreq: 14.01
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides students with an introduction to public policy analysis. Examines various approaches to policy analysis by considering the concepts, tools, and methods used in economics, political science, and other disciplines. Students apply and critique these approaches through case studies of current public policy problems.
C. Abbanat

11.004[J] People and the Planet: Environmental Histories and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Elective
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as STS.033[J])
(Subject meets with 11.204[J], IDS.524[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Explores historical and cultural aspects of complex environmental problems and engineering approaches to sustainable solutions. Introduces quantitative analyses and methodological tools to understand environmental issues that have human and natural components. Demonstrates concepts through a series of historical and cultural analyses of environmental challenges and their engineering responses. Builds writing, quantitative modeling, and analytical skills in assessing environmental systems problems and developing engineering solutions. Through environmental data gathering and analysis, students engage with the challenges and possibilities of engineering in complex, interacting systems, and investigate plausible, symbiotic, systems-oriented solutions. Students taking graduate version complete additional analysis of reading assignments and a more in-depth and longer final paper. 
Staff

11.005 Introduction to International Development
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (5-234)
______
Introduces the political economy of international economic development planning, using an applied, quantitative approach. Considers why some countries are able to develop faster than others. Presents major theories and models of development and underdevelopment, providing tools to understand the mechanisms and processes behind economic growth and broader notions of progress. Offers an alternative view of development, focusing on the persistence of dichotomies in current theory and practice. Using specific cases, explores how different combinations of actors and institutions at various scales may promote or inhibit economic development. Students re-examine conventional knowledge and engage critically with the assumptions behind current thinking and policy.
M. Penumaka
No textbook information available

11.006 Poverty and Economic Security
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 11.206)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the evolution of poverty and economic security in the US within a global context. Examines the impacts of recent economic restructuring and globalization. Reviews current debates about the fate of the middle class, sources of increasing inequality, and approaches to advancing economic opportunity and security. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Glasmeier

11.007 Urban and Environmental Technology Implementation Lab
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-2-8
______
Real-world clients and environmental problems form the basis of a project in which teams of students develop strategies for analysis and implementation of new sensor technology within cities. Working closely with a partner or client based on the MIT campus or in Cambridge, students assess the environmental problem, implement prototypes, and recommend promising solutions to the client for implementation. Equipment and working space provided. Limited to 12.
D. Hsu

11.008 Undergraduate Planning Seminar
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
A weekly seminar that includes discussions on topics in cities and urban planning, including guest lectures from DUSP faculty and practicing planners. Topics include urban science, zoning, architecture and urban design, urban sociology, politics and public policy, transportation and mobility, democratic governance, civil rights and social justice, urban economics, affordable housing, environmental policy and planning, real estate and economic development, agriculture and food policy, public health, and international development. Weekly student presentations on local planning issues and current events; occasional walking tours or arranged field trips. May be repeated for credit. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 11 and 11-6 sophomores and juniors.
E. Glenn

11.011 The Art and Science of Negotiation
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to negotiation theory and practice. Applications in government, business, and nonprofit settings are examined. Combines a "hands-on" personal skill-building orientation with a look at pertinent tactical and strategic foundations. Preparation insights, persuasion tools, ethical benchmarks, and institutional influences are examined as they shape our ability to analyze problems, negotiate agreements, and resolve disputes in social, organizational, and political circumstances characterized by interdependent interests. Enrollment limited by lottery; consult class website for information and deadlines.
B. Verdini

11.013[J] American Urban History
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21H.217[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T2-4 (8-205)
______
Seminar on the history of institutions and institutional change in American cities from roughly 1850 to the present. Among the institutions to be looked at are political machines, police departments, courts, schools, prisons, public authorities, and universities. Focuses on readings and discussions.
E. Glenn
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

11.014[J] History of the Built Environment in the US
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.218[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
______
Seminar on the history of selected features of the physical environment of urban America. Among the features considered are parks, cemeteries, tenements, suburbs, zoos, skyscrapers, department stores, supermarkets, and amusement parks.
Staff

11.015[J] Riots, Strikes, and Conspiracies in American History
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.226[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on a series of short, complicated, traumatic events that shed light on American politics, culture, and society. Events studied may include the rendition of Anthony Burns in 1854, the most famous fugitive slave controversy in US history; the Homestead strike/lockout of 1892; the quiz show scandal of the 1950s; and the student uprisings at Columbia University in 1968. Emphasis on finding ways to make sense of these events and on using them to understand larger processes of change in American history.
Staff

11.016[J] The Once and Future City
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 4.211[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the evolving structure of cities, the dynamic processes that shape them, and the significance of a city's history for its future development. Develops the ability to read urban form as an interplay of natural processes and human purposes over time. Field assignments in Boston provide the opportunity to use, develop, and refine these concepts. Enrollment limited.
A. Spirn

11.021[J] Environmental Law, Policy, and Economics: Pollution Prevention and Control
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 1.801[J], 17.393[J], IDS.060[J])
(Subject meets with 1.811[J], 11.630[J], 15.663[J], IDS.540[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (E51-057) +final
______
Analyzes federal and state regulation of air and water pollution, hazardous waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and production/use of toxic chemicals. Analyzes pollution/climate change as economic problems and failure of markets. Explores the role of science and economics in legal decisions. Emphasizes use of legal mechanisms and alternative approaches (i.e., economic incentives, voluntary approaches) to control pollution and encourage chemical accident and pollution prevention. Focuses on major federal legislation, underlying administrative system, and common law in analyzing environmental policy, economic consequences, and role of the courts. Discusses classical pollutants and toxic industrial chemicals, greenhouse gas emissions, community right-to-know, and environmental justice. Develops basic legal skills: how to read/understand cases, regulations, and statutes. Students taking graduate version explore the subject in greater depth.
N. Ashford, C. Caldart
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

11.022[J] Regulation of Chemicals, Radiation, and Biotechnology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.802[J], IDS.061[J])
(Subject meets with 1.812[J], 10.805[J], 11.631[J], IDS.436[J], IDS.541[J])
Prereq: IDS.060 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on policy design and evaluation in the regulation of hazardous substances and processes. Includes risk assessment, industrial chemicals, pesticides, food contaminants, pharmaceuticals, radiation and radioactive wastes, product safety, workplace hazards, indoor air pollution, biotechnology, victims' compensation, and administrative law. Health and economic consequences of regulation, as well as its potential to spur technological change, are discussed for each regulatory regime. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
Staff

11.024 Modeling Pedestrian Activity in Cities
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 11.324)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2-3.30 (10-401) +final
______
Investigates the interaction between pedestrian activity, urban form, and land-use patterns in relatively dense urban environments. Informed by recent literature on pedestrian mobility, behavior, and biases, subject takes a practical approach, using software tools and analysis methods to operationalize and model pedestrian activity. Uses simplified yet powerful and scalable network analysis methods that focus uniquely on pedestrians, rather than engaging in comprehensive travel demand modeling across all modes. Emphasizes not only modeling or predicting pedestrian activity in given built settings, but also analyzing and understanding how changes in the built environment — land use changes, density changes, and connectivity changes — can affect pedestrian activity. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Sevtsuk
No textbook information available

11.025[J] D-Lab: Development
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as EC.701[J])
(Subject meets with 11.472[J], EC.781[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-7
______
Issues in international development, appropriate technology and project implementation addressed through lectures, case studies, guest speakers and laboratory exercises. Students form project teams to partner with community organizations in developing countries, and formulate plans for an optional IAP site visit. (Previous field sites include Ghana, Brazil, Honduras and India.) Recitation sections focus on specific project implementation, and include cultural, social, political, environmental and economic overviews of the target countries as well as an introduction to the local languages. Enrollment limited by lottery; must attend first class session.
S. L. Hsu, B. Sanyal

11.026[J] Downtown
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.321[J])
(Subject meets with 11.339)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
______
Seminar on downtown in US cities from the late 19th century to the late 20th. Emphasis on downtown as an idea, place, and cluster of interests, on the changing character of downtown, and on recent efforts to rebuild it. Considers subways, skyscrapers, highways, urban renewal, and retail centers. Focus on readings, discussions, and individual research projects. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

11.027 City to City: Comparing, Researching, and Reflecting on Practice
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (9-217)
______
Introduces students to practice through researching, writing, and working for and with nonprofits. Students work directly with nonprofits and community partners to help find solutions to real world problems; interview planners and other field experts, and write and present findings to nonprofit partners and community audiences.
C. Abbanat
No textbook information available

11.029[J] Mobility Ventures: Driving Innovation in Transportation Systems
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 15.3791[J])
(Subject meets with 11.529[J], 15.379[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Explores technological, behavioral, policy, and systems-wide frameworks for innovation in transportation systems, complemented with case studies across the mobility spectrum, from autonomous vehicles to urban air mobility to last-mile sidewalk robots. Students interact with a series of guest lecturers from CEOs and other business and government executives who are actively reshaping the future of mobility. Interdisciplinary teams of students collaborate to deliver business plans for proposed mobility-focused startups with an emphasis on primary market research. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Preference to juniors and seniors.
J. Zhao, J. Moavenzadeh, J. Larios Berlin

11.041 Introduction to Housing, Community, and Economic Development
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 11.401)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a critical introduction to the shape and determinants of political, social, and economic inequality in America, with a focus on racial and economic justice. Explores the role of the city in visions of justice. Analyzes the historical, political, and institutional contexts of housing and community development policy in the US, including federalism, municipal fragmentation, and decentralized public financing. Introduces major dimensions in US housing policy, such as housing finance, public housing policy, and state and local housing affordability mechanisms. Reviews major themes in community economic development, including drivers of economic inequality, small business policy, employment policy, and cooperative economics. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version.
J. Phil Thompson, H. Harriel

11.045[J] Power: Interpersonal, Organizational, and Global Dimensions
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 15.302[J], 17.045[J], 21A.127[J])
(Subject meets with 21A.129)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
The study of power among individuals and within organizations, markets, and states. Using examples from anthropology and sociology alongside classical and contemporary social theory, explores the nature of dominant and subordinate relationships, types of legitimate authority, and practices of resistance. Examines how people are influenced in subtle ways by those around them, who makes controlling decisions in the family, how people get ahead at work, and whether democracies, in fact, reflect the will of the people. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Silbey

11.047[J] Race, Place, and Modernity in the Americas
(New)
______

Undergrad (IAP) HASS Elective
(Same subject as 21L.592[J], 21W.781[J], WGS.247[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-3
______
Students travel to São Paulo for three weeks. Examines the relationship between race and place in the formation of modern Brazil and the US through comparative analysis and interdisciplinary study. In addition to participating in class discussions on literature, film, and visual art, students visit key cultural and historical sites; interact with archives and museum collections; and, most importantly, engage in dialogue with local activists, religious leaders, community organizers, and scholars. Focusing on the work of Black and Indigenous people, particularly women, places a strong emphasis on the ways in which art and cultural activism can have an impact on racial justice issues. Taught in English; no Portuguese needed. Contact Women's and Gender Studies about travel fee, possible funding opportunities, and other details. Enrollment limited to 20. Application required.
J. Terrones
No textbook information available

11.067 Land Use Law and Politics: Race, Place, and Law
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 11.367)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (9-255)
______
Explores conceptions of spatial justice and introduces students to basic principles of US law and legal analysis, focused on property, land use, equal protection, civil rights, fair housing, and local government law, in order to examine who should control how land is used. Examines the rights of owners of land and the types of regulatory and market-based tools that are available to control land use, and discusses why and when government regulation, rather than private market ordering, might be necessary to control land use patterns. Explores basic principles of civil rights and anti-discrimination law and focuses on particular civil rights problems associated with the land use regulatory system, such as exclusionary zoning, residential segregation, the fair distribution of undesirable land uses, and gentrification. Introduces basic skills of statutory drafting and interpretation. Assignments differ for those taking the graduate version.
J. Steil
No textbook information available

11.068 Environmental Justice, Science, and Technology
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2-3.30 (9-450A)
______
Introduces foundational principles of environmental justice and presents the history of the environmental justice movement and how the movement connects to research, including community engaged research. Explores how scientific and technological tools, such as earth observation technology or geographical information systems (GIS), can be used to better understand and address environmental justice issues. Analyzes how emerging engineering approaches to climate change and environment may affect environmental justice and injustice. Enables students to engage in group projects connected to local environmental justice issues. Aims to spur institutional conversation on how environmental justice and community-centered approaches can provide a framework for STEM education, research, design, and innovation.
J. Steil
No textbook information available

11.074 Cybersecurity Clinic
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Subject meets with 11.274)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-4-6
Lecture: F10-12 (9-450A)
______
Provides an opportunity for MIT students to become certified in methods of assessing the vulnerability of public agencies (particularly agencies that manage critical urban infrastructure) to the risk of cyberattack. Certification involves completing an 8-hour, self-paced, online set of four modules during the first four weeks of the semester followed by a competency exam. Students who successfully complete the exam become certified. The certified students work in teams with client agencies in various cities around the United States. Through preparatory interactions with the agencies, and short on-site visits, teams prepare vulnerability assessments that client agencies can use to secure the technical assistance and financial support they need to manage the risks of cyberattack they are facing. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 15.
Fall: L. Susskind, J. Chun
Spring: L. Susskind, J. Chun
No textbook information available

11.085 Technology and Society: Computational Models for Public Decision-Making
(New)
______

Undergrad (IAP)
Prereq: 6.100B, 16.C20, or permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
This workshop builds on urban-related computational problems (involving, for example, network routing, Monte Carlo simulation, resource allocation, and recursion) to focus on real-world contexts and decision-making cases. Explores how problem framing can impact analytic formulations, and how analyses of social policies that impact citizens unevenly can be more sensitive to context and social equity considerations. Problem settings include access and control of local roads, mandatory insurance and building codes for coastal development, and locating essential public services. Fosters innovative problem-solving abilities by designing and testing alternative problem formulations, exercising Python programming skills, and introducing urban planning practices and social policy concepts. Limited to 25.
C. Cong
No textbook information available

11.092 Renewable Energy Facility Siting Clinic
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with 11.592)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-4-6 [P/D/F]
Lecture: F3-5 (9-450A)
______
Presents methods for resolving facility siting disputes, particularly those involving renewable energy. After completing four modules and a competency exam for MITx certification, students work in teams to help client communities in various cities around the United States. Through direct interactions with the proponents and opponents of facilities subject to local opposition, students complete a stakeholder assessment and offer joint fact-finding and collaborative problem-solving assistance. The political, legal, financial, and regulatory aspects of facility siting, particularly for renewable energy, are reviewed along with key infrastructure planning principles. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 15.
Fall: L. Susskind and J. Chun
Spring: L. Susskind and J. Chun
No textbook information available

Specialized Subjects

11.100 Introduction to Computational Thinking in Cities
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 6.100B
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Highlights how computer science may inform and impact how cities are conceptualized, planned, designed, regulated, and managed. The first half of the class explores the history of computational approaches in urban planning between around 1950 and 2020. The second half attempts to connect the data science concepts learned in 6.100B to topics in city planning and design. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students.
A. Sevtsuk

11.107 Economic Development Planning and Policy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 11.407)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces tools and techniques in economic development planning. Extensive use of data collection, analysis, and display techniques. Students build interpretive intuition skills through user experience design activities and develop a series of memos summarizing the results of their data analysis. These are aggregated into a final report, and include the tools developed over the semester. Students taking graduate version complete modified assignments focused on developing computer applications.
A. Glasmeier

11.111[J] Leadership in Negotiation: Advanced Applications
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 17.381[J])
Prereq: 11.011 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Building on the skills and strategies honed in 11.011, explores advanced negotiation practice. Emphasizes an experiential skill-building approach, underpinned by cutting-edge cases and innovative research. Examines applications in high-stakes management, public policy, social entrepreneurship, international diplomacy, and scientific discovery. Strengthens collaborative decision-making, persuasion, and leadership skills by negotiating across different media and through personalized coaching, enhancing students' ability to proactively engage stakeholders, transform organizations, and inspire communities. Limited by lottery; consult class website for information and deadlines.
B. Verdini Trejo

11.113 The Economic Approach to Cities and Environmental Sustainability
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 11.413)
Prereq: 1.010, 14.30, 18.650, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a systematic framework of the interplay (both tension and synergy) between urbanization and environmental sustainability from a global perspective. Enhances analytical reasoning and quantitative skills to assist evidence-based empirical study and policy design evaluation. Explores the causes and consequences of urban environmental quality dynamics, and provides econometric tools to quantify such relationships. Examines state-of-the-art research in this field by introducing empirical studies from both developing and developed countries (highlighting fast urbanization). Themes include urban production, households, transportation and form, as well as political economy and climate resilience. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Zheng

11.119 NEET Seminar: Digital Cities
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Seminar for students enrolled in the Digital Cities NEET thread. Focuses on topics around clean energy and sustainability in cities via guest lectures and research discussions.
C. Cong

11.122[J] Law, Technology, and Public Policy
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as IDS.066[J])
(Subject meets with 11.422[J], 15.655[J], IDS.435[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines how law, economics, and technological change shape public policy, and how law can sway technological change; how the legal system responds to environmental, safety, energy, social, and ethical problems; how law and markets interact to influence technological development; and how law can affect wealth distribution, employment, and social justice. Covers energy/climate change; genetic engineering; telecommunications and role of misinformation; industrial automation; effect of regulation on technological innovation; impacts of antitrust law on innovation and equity; pharmaceuticals; nanotechnology; cost/benefit analysis as a decision tool; public participation in governmental decisions affecting science and technology; corporate influence on technology and welfare; and law and economics as competing paradigms to encourage sustainability. Students taking graduate version explore subject in greater depth.
N. Ashford

11.123 Big Plans and Mega-Urban Landscapes
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TF11-12.30 (10-485)
______
Explores the physical, ecological, technological, political, economic and cultural implications of big plans and mega-urban landscapes in a global context. Uses local and international case studies to understand the process of making major changes to urban landscape and city fabric, and to regional landscape systems. Includes lectures by leading practitioners. Assignments consider planning and design strategies across multiple scales and time frames.
A. Berger 
No textbook information available

11.124[J] Introduction to Education: Looking Forward and Looking Back on Education
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as CMS.586[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-6-3
______
One of two introductory subjects on teaching and learning science and mathematics in a variety of K-12 settings. Topics include education and media, education reform, the history of education, simulations, games, and the digital divide. Students gain practical experience through weekly visits to schools, classroom discussions, selected readings, and activities to develop a critical and broad understanding of past and current forces that shape the goals and processes of education, and explores the challenges and opportunities of teaching. Students work collaboratively and individually on papers, projects, and in-class presentations. Limited to 25.
M. Hughes

11.125[J] Introduction to Education: Understanding and Evaluating Education
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as CMS.587[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-6-3
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (56-154) Lab: TBA
______
One of two introductory subjects on teaching and learning science and mathematics in a variety of K-12 settings. Topics include student misconceptions, formative assessment, standards and standardized testing, multiple intelligences, and educational technology. Students gain practical experience through weekly visits to schools, classroom discussions, selected readings, and activities to develop a critical and broad understanding of past and current forces that shape the goals and processes of education, and explores the challenges and opportunities of teaching. Students work collaboratively and individually on papers, projects, and in-class presentations. Limited to 25.
J. Gardony, M. Hughes
No textbook information available

11.127[J] Design and Development of Games for Learning
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as CMS.590[J])
(Subject meets with 11.252[J], CMS.863[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-6-3
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (E25-117) Lab: TBA
______
Immerses students in the process of building and testing their own digital and board games in order to better understand how we learn from games. Explores the design and use of games in the classroom in addition to research and development issues associated with computer-based (desktop and handheld) and non-computer-based media. In developing their own games, students examine what and how people learn from them (including field testing of products), as well as how games can be implemented in educational settings. All levels of computer experience welcome. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Haas
No textbook information available

11.129[J] Educational Theory and Practice I
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as CMS.591[J])
Prereq: None. Coreq: CMS.586
Units: 3-0-9
______
Concentrates on core set of skills and knowledge necessary for teaching in secondary schools. Topics include classroom management, student behavior and motivation, curriculum design, educational reform, and the teaching profession. Classroom observation is a key component. Assignments include readings from educational literature, written reflections on classroom observations, practice teaching and constructing curriculum. The first of the three-course sequence necessary to complete the Teacher Education Program. Limited to 15; preference to juniors and seniors.
G. Schwanbeck

11.130[J] Educational Theory and Practice II
______

Undergrad (IAP)
(Same subject as CMS.592[J])
Prereq: CMS.591
Units: 3-0-9
______
Concentrates on the theory and psychology associated with student learning. Topics include educational theory, educational psychology, and theories of learning. Students assume responsibility for full-time teaching of two or more classes at their designated school. Class sessions focus on debriefing and problem-solving. Second of a three-course sequence necessary to complete the Teacher Education Program.
G. Schwanbeck
No required or recommended textbooks

11.131[J] Educational Theory and Practice III
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as CMS.593[J])
Prereq: CMS.592
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR4-5.30 (56-169)
______
Students continue their IAP student teaching through mid March. Topics include educational psychology, theories of learning, and using technology and evaluating its effectiveness to enhance student learning. Assignments include readings from educational literature, written reflections on student teaching, presentations on class topics and creating a project that supports student learning at the school where the MIT student is teaching. This is the third of the three-course sequence necessary to complete the Teacher Education Program.
G. Schwanbeck
No required or recommended textbooks

11.133[J] Dilemmas in Biomedical Ethics: Playing God or Doing Good?
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21A.302[J], WGS.271[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
An introduction to the cross-cultural study of biomedical ethics. Examines moral foundations of the science and practice of western biomedicine through case studies of abortion, contraception, cloning, organ transplantation and other issues. Evaluates challenges that new medical technologies pose to the practice and availability of medical services around the globe, and to cross-cultural ideas of kinship and personhood. Discusses critiques of the biomedical tradition from anthropological, feminist, legal, religious, and cross-cultural theorists.
Staff

11.134[J] Infections and Inequalities: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Global Health
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as HST.431[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines case studies in infectious disease outbreaks to demonstrate how human health is a product of multiple determinants, such as biology, sociocultural and historical factors, politics, economic processes, and the environment. Analyzes how structural inequalities render certain populations vulnerable to illness and explores the moral and ethical dimensions of public health and clinical interventions to promote health. Limited to 25.
Staff

11.135 Violence, Human Rights, and Justice
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
An examination of the problem of mass violence and oppression in the contemporary world, and of the concept of human rights as a defense against such abuse. Explores questions of cultural relativism, race, gender and ethnicity. Examines case studies from war crimes tribunals, truth commissions, anti-terrorist policies and other judicial attempts to redress state-sponsored wrongs. Considers whether the human rights framework effectively promotes the rule of law in modern societies. Students debate moral positions and address ideas of moral relativism.
Staff

11.136 Global Mental Health
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides skills to critically analyze issues of mental health in historical and cross-cultural contexts. Studies mental illness as a complex biopsychosocial experience embedded in particular political and economic frameworks. Examines the relationships among culture, gender, embodiment, and emotional distress; power inequalities and ideas of the "normal" and "abnormal;" and how such conceptions influence care-giving practices, whether in traditional or biomedical contexts. Evaluates how the disciplines of psychology, psychoanalysis, and psychiatry have developed in the West, and considers their influence on mental health interventions in global settings. Limited to 25.
Staff

11.137 Financing Economic Development and Housing
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 11.437)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies financing tools and program models to support and promote local economic development and housing. Overview of public and private capital markets and financing sources helps illustrate market imperfections that constrain economic and housing development and increase race and class disparaties. Explores federal housing and economic development programs as well as state and local public finance tools. Covers policies and program models. Investigates public finance practice to better understand how these finance programs affect other municipal operations. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 25.
Staff

11.138 Crowd Sourced City: Civic Tech Prototyping
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 11.458)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Investigates the use of social medial and digital technologies for planning and advocacy by working with actual planning and advocacy organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate prototype digital tools. Students use the development of their digital tools as a way to investigate new media technologies that can be used for planning. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Williams, K. Crockett

11.139 The City in Film
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Subject meets with 11.239)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-2-5
______
Surveys important developments in urbanism from 1900 to the present, using film as a lens to explore and interpret aspects of the urban experience in the US and abroad. Topics include industrialization, demographics, diversity, the environment, and the relationship between the community and the individual. Films vary from year to year but always include a balance of classics from the history of film, an occasional experimental/avant-garde film, and a number of more recent, mainstream movies. Students taking undergraduate version complete writing assignments that focus on observation, analysis, and the essay, and give an oral presentation. Limited to 18.
E. Glenn

11.140 Urbanization and Development
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines developmental dynamics of rapidly urbanizing locales, with a special focus on the developing world. Case studies from India, China, Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa form the basis for discussion of social, spatial, political and economic changes in cities spurred by the decline of industry, the rise of services, and the proliferation of urban mega projects. Emphasizes the challenges of growing urban inequality, environmental risk, citizen displacement, insufficient housing, and the lack of effective institutions for metropolitan governance.
Staff

11.142 Geography of the Global Economy
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 11.442)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: M2-5 (9-450A)
______
Analyzes implications of economic globalization for communities, regions, international businesses and economic development organizations. Uses spatial analysis techniques to model the role of energy resources in shaping international political economy. Investigates key drivers of human, physical, and social capital flows and their roles in modern human settlement systems. Surveys contemporary models of industrialization and places them in geographic context. Connects forces of change with their implications for the distribution of wealth and human well-being. Looks backward to understand pre-Covid conditions and then returns to the present to understand how a global pandemic changes the world. Class relies on current literature and explorations of sectors. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Glasmeier
No textbook information available

11.143 Research Methods in Global Health and Development
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 11.243)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Provides training for students to critically analyze the relationship between "health" and "development." Draws upon the theory and methods of medical anthropology, social medicine, public health, and development to track how culture, history, and political economy influence health and disease in global communities. Students work in teams to formulate research questions, and collect and analyze qualitative data in clinical and community settings in the greater Boston area, in order to design effective development interventions aimed at reducing health disparities in the US and abroad. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. C. James

11.144 Project Appraisal in Developing Countries
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers techniques of financial analysis of investment expenditures, as well as the economic and distributive appraisal of development projects. Critical analysis of these tools in the political economy of international development is discussed. Topics include appraisal's role in the project cycle, planning under conditions of uncertainty, constraints in data quality and the limits of rational analysis, and the coordination of an interdisciplinary appraisal team. Enrollment limited; preference to majors.
Staff

11.145 International Housing Economics and Finance
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 14.01
Units: 3-0-6
Credit cannot also be received for 11.355
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (9-217)
______
Presents a theory of comparative differences in international housing outcomes. Introduces institutional differences in the ways housing expenditures are financed, and the economic determinants of housing outcomes, such as construction costs, land values, housing quality, and ownership rates. Analyzes the flow of funds to and from the different national housing finance sectors. Develops an understanding of the greater financial and macroeconomic implications of the mortgage credit sector, and how policies affect the ways housing asset fluctuations impact national economies. Considers the perspective of investors in international real estate markets and the risks and rewards involved. Draws on lessons from an international comparative approach, and applies them to economic and finance policies at the local, state/provincial, and federal levels within a country of choice. Meets with 11.355 when offered concurrently. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Saiz
No textbook information available

11.147 Budgeting and Finance for the Public Sector
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 11.487)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines globally relevant challenges of adequately and effectively attending to public sector responsibilities for basic services with limited resources. Particular attention to the contexts of fiscal crises and rapid population growth, as well as shrinkage, through an introduction to methods and processes of budgeting, accounting, and financial mobilization. Case studies and practice exercises explore revenue strategies, demonstrate fiscal analytical competencies, and familiarize students with pioneering examples of promising budget and accounting processes and innovative funding mobilization via taxation, capital markets, and other mechanisms (e.g., land-value capture). Students taking graduate version explore the subject in greater depth.
G. Carolini

11.148 Environmental Justice: Law and Policy
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 11.368)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces frameworks for analyzing and addressing inequalities in the distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, particularly by race and by class. Explores the foundations and principles of the environmental justice movement from the perspectives of social science, public policy, and law. Introduces basic principles of US constitutional and environmental law, with a focus on equal protection and civil rights. Applies environmental justice principles to contemporary issues in urban policy and planning, including effects of and responses to climate change and global heating. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Steil

11.149 Decarbonizing Urban Mobility
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 11.449)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Focuses on measuring and reducing emissions from passenger transportation. After examining travel, energy, and climate conditions, students review existing approaches to transport decarbonization. Evaluates new mobility technologies through their potential to contribute to (or delay) a zero emission mobility system. Students consider the policy tools required to achieve approaches to achieve change. Frames past and future emission reductions using an approach based on the Kaya Identity, decomposing past (and potential future) emissions into their component pieces. Seeks to enable students to be intelligent evaluators of approaches to transportation decarbonization and equip them with the tools to develop and evaluate policy measures relevant to their local professional challenges. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Salzberg

11.150[J] Metropolis: A Comparative History of New York City
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.220[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (1-273)
______
Examines the evolution of New York City from 1607 to the present. Readings focus on the city's social and physical histories. Discussions compare New York's development to patterns in other cities.
C. Wilder
No required or recommended textbooks

11.151[J] Youth Political Participation
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as STS.080[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys youth political participation in the US since the early 1800s. Investigates trends in youth political activism during specific historical periods, as well as what difference youth media production and technology use (e.g., radio, music, automobiles, ready-made clothing) made in determining the course of events. Explores what is truly new about "new media" and reviews lessons from history for present-day activists based on patterns of past failure and success. Some mandatory field trips may occur during class time. Limited to 40.
J. S. Light

11.152[J] The Ghetto: From Venice to Harlem
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.385[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an in-depth look at a modern institution of oppression: the ghetto. Uses literature to examine ghettoization over time and across a wide geographical area, from Jews in Medieval Europe to African-Americans and Latinos in the 20th-century United States. Also explores segregation and poverty in the urban "Third World."
C. Wilder

11.153[J] Shanghai and China's Modernization
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.351[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-10
______
Considers the history and function of Shanghai, from 1840 to the present, and its rise from provincial backwater to international metropolis. Examines its role as a primary point of economic, political, and social contact between China and the world, and the strong grip Shanghai holds on both the Chinese and foreign imagination. Students discuss the major events and figures of Shanghai, critique the classic historiography, and complete an independent project on Shanghai history.
Staff

11.154 Big Data, Visualization, and Society
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 11.454)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 6.8530, 6.C35, 6.C85, 11.454, 11.C35, 11.C85, CMS.C35, IDS.C35, IDS.C85
______
Data visualizations communicate the insights found in data to non-technical audiences. Students develop technical skills to work with big data to expose societal issues and communicate the insights. Focuses on different topics each year. After framing that topic, the first half of the subject focuses on learning to analyze the data with Python. The second half of the subject focuses on learning web-based data visualization tools (JavaScript and D3). Students learn data storytelling concepts and produce web-based data visualizations for their final projects. Throughout, students learn ethical data practices. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. D'Ignazio, S. Williams

11.C35[J] Interactive Data Visualization and Society
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.C35[J], CMS.C35[J], IDS.C35[J])
(Subject meets with 6.C85[J], 11.C85[J], IDS.C85[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-4-8
Credit cannot also be received for 6.8530, 11.154, 11.454
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (45-230) Lab: R3 (45-102)
______
Covers the design, ethical, and technical skills for creating effective visualizations. Short assignments build familiarity with the data analysis and visualization design process. Weekly lab sessions present coding and technical skills. A final project provides experience working with real-world big data, provided by external partners, in order to expose and communicate insights about societal issues. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited. Enrollment limited.
C. D'Ignazio, C. Lee, A. Satyanarayan
No textbook information available

11.155[J] Data and Society
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as IDS.057[J], STS.005[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces students to the social, political, and ethical aspects of data science work. Designed to create reflective practitioners who are able to think critically about how collecting, aggregating, and analyzing data are social processes and processes that affect people.
E. Medina, S. Williams

11.156 Healthy Cities: Assessing Health Impacts of Policies and Plans
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 11.356)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the built, psychosocial, economic, and natural environment factors that affect health behaviors and outcomes, including population-level patterns of disease distribution and health disparities. Introduces tools designed to integrate public health considerations into policy-making and planning. Assignments provide students opportunities to develop extensive practical experience bringing a health lens to policy, budgeting, and/or planning debates. Emphasizes health equity and healthy cities, and explores the relationship between health equity and broader goals for social and racial justice. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 30.
M. Arcaya

11.157 China's Growth: Political Economy, Business, and Urbanization
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
(Subject meets with 11.257)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
______
Examines different aspects of the growth of China, which has the second largest economy in the world. Studies the main drivers of Chinese economic growth and the forces behind the largest urbanization in human history. Discusses how to understand China's booming real estate market, and how Chinese firms operate to attain their success, whether through hard-working entrepreneurship or political connections with the government. Explores whether the top-down urban and industrial policy interventions improve efficiency or cause misallocation problems, and whether the Chinese political system in an enabler of Chinese growth or a potential impediment to the country's future growth prospects. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Zheng, Z. Tan

11.158 Behavioral Science, AI, and Urban Mobility
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 11.478)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Integrates behavioral science, artificial intelligence, and transportation technology to shape travel behavior, design mobility systems and business, and reform transportation policies. Introduces methods to sense travel behavior with new technology and measurements; nudge behavior through perception and preference shaping; design mobility systems and ventures that integrate autonomous vehicles, shared mobility, and public transit; and regulate travel with behavior-sensitive transport policies. Challenges students to pilot behavioral experiments and design creative mobility systems, business and policies. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

11.159 Entrepreneurial Negotiation
______

Undergrad (Fall); partial term
(Subject meets with 11.259)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-3-2 [P/D/F]
______
Combines online weekly face-to-face negotiation exercises and in-person lectures designed to empower budding entrepreneurs with negotiation techniques to protect and increase the value of their ideas, deal with ego and build trust in relationships, and navigate entrepreneurial bargaining under constraints of economic uncertainty and complex technical considerations. Students must complete scheduled weekly assignments, including feedback memos to counterpart negotiators, and meet on campus with the instructor to discuss and reflect on their experiences with the course. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Dinnar

11.164[J] Human Rights at Home and Abroad
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 17.391[J])
(Subject meets with 11.497)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-10
______
Provides a rigorous and critical introduction to the history, foundation, structure, and operation of the human rights movement. Focuses on key ideas, actors, methods and sources, and critically evaluates the field. Addresses current debates in human rights, including the relationship with security, democracy, development and globalization, urbanization, equality (in housing and other economic and social rights; women's rights; ethnic, religious and racial discrimination; and policing/conflict), post-conflict rebuilding and transitional justice, and technology in human rights activism. No prior coursework needed, but work experience, or community service that demonstrates familiarity with global affairs or engagement with ethics and social justice issues, preferred. Students taking graduate version are expected to write a research paper.
B. Rajagopal

11.165 Urban Energy Systems and Policy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 1.286[J], 11.477[J])
Prereq: 14.01 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines efforts in developing and advanced nations and regions. Examines key issues in the current and future development of urban energy systems, such as technology, use, behavior, regulation, climate change, and lack of access or energy poverty. Case studies on a diverse sampling of cities explore how prospective technologies and policies can be implemented. Includes intensive group research projects, discussion, and debate. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

11.166 Law, Social Movements, and Public Policy: Comparative and International Experience
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 11.496)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies the interaction between law, courts, and social movements in shaping domestic and global public policy. Examines how groups mobilize to use law to affect change and why they succeed and fail. Case studies explore the interplay between law, social movements, and public policy in current issues, such as gender, race, labor, trade, climate change/environment, and LGBTQ rights. Introduces theories of public policy, social movements, law and society, and transnational studies. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 15.
B. Rajagopal

11.167[J] Global Energy: Politics, Markets, and Policy
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 14.47[J], 15.2191[J], 17.399[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 11.267, 15.219
______
Focuses on the ways economics and politics influence the fate of energy technologies, business models, and policies around the world. Extends fundamental concepts in the social sciences to case studies and simulations that illustrate how corporate, government, and individual decisions shape energy and environmental outcomes. In a final project, students apply the concepts in order to assess the prospects for an energy innovation to scale and advance sustainability goals in a particular regional market. Recommended prerequisite: 14.01. Meets with 15.219 when offered concurrently. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details. Preference to juniors, seniors, and Energy Minors.
Staff

11.169 Global Climate Policy and Sustainability
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 11.269)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines climate politics both nationally and globally. Addresses economic growth, environmental preservation, and social equity through the lens of sustainability. Uses various country and regional cases to analyze how sociopolitical, economic and environmental values shape climate policy. Students develop recommendations for making climate policy more effective and sustainable. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 25.
J. Knox-Hayes

11.170 Cities and Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 11.270)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines climate adaptation and mitigation responses at the city level. Discusses factors of greatest concern in adapting cities to climate change, including infrastructure; energy, food, and water systems; health; housing; and environmental justice. Various city and regional cases are used to analyze how cities are mobilizing to face climate change and integrate core considerations into urban planning. Working on independent case studies, students analyze how cities make urban planning decisions with respect to climate adaptation. In the process, students practice analytical skills to better understand how urban policies are made, and how they can be improved. Students develop recommendations for making climate adaptation more effective and sustainable at the city level. Assignment requirements differ for students completing the graduate version. Limited to 25.
Staff

11.171 Indigenous Environmental Planning
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 11.271)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W9.30-12.30 (9-255)
______
Examines how Indigenous peoples' relationships to their homelands and local environments has been adversely affected by Western planning. Explores how these relationships have changed over time as American Indians, Alaska Natives, and other groups indigenous to North America and Hawai'i have adapted to new conditions, including exclusion from markets of exchange, overhunting/overfishing, dispossession, petrochemical development, conservation, mainstream environmentalism, and climate change. Seeks to understand current environmental challenges and their roots and discover potential solutions to address these challenges. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Lawrence Susskind, Janelle Knox-Hayes, Jean-Luc Pierite
No textbook information available

11.173[J] Infrastructure Design for Climate Change
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.103[J])
(Subject meets with 1.303[J], 11.273[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-2-4
______
In this team-oriented, project-based subject, students work to find technical solutions that could be implemented to mitigate the effects of natural hazards related to climate change, bearing in mind that any proposed measures must be appropriate in a given region's socio-political-economic context. Students are introduced to a variety of natural hazards and possible mitigation approaches as well as principles of design, including adaptable design and design for failure. Students select the problems they want to solve and develop their projects. During the term, officials and practicing engineers of Cambridge, Boston, Puerto Rico, and MIT Facilities describe their approaches. Student projects are documented in a written report and oral presentation. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited; preference to juniors and seniors.
H. Einstein

Laboratories

11.188 Introduction to Spatial Analysis and GIS Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Institute Lab
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
Credit cannot also be received for 11.205
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (9-354) Lab: F1-4 (9-554)
______
An introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a tool for visualizing and analyzing spatial data. Explores how GIS can make maps, guide decisions, answer questions, and advocate for change. Class builds toward a project in which students critically apply GIS techniques to an area of interest. Students build data discovery, cartography, and spatial analysis skills while learning to reflect on their positionality within the research design process. Because maps and data are never neutral, the class incorporates discussions of power, ethics, and data throughout as part of a reflective practice. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided.
Fall: E. Huntley, C. Cong
Spring: C. D'Ignazio, E. Huntley
No textbook information available

Tutorials, Fieldwork, and Internships

11.UAR[J] Climate and Sustainability Undergraduate Advanced Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 1.UAR[J], 3.UAR[J], 5.UAR[J], 12.UAR[J], 15.UAR[J], 22.UAR[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Lecture: MW4 (48-316)
______
Provides instruction in effective research, experiential projects, internships, and externships, including choosing and refining problems, surveying previous work and publications, industry best practices, design for robustness, technical presentation, authorship and collaboration, and ethics. Supporting content includes background and context pertaining to climate change and sustainability, as well as tools for sustainable design. Focus for project work includes research topics relevant to the MIT Climate & Sustainability Consortium (MCSC). Students engage in extensive written and oral communication exercises, in the context of an approved advanced research project. A total of 12 units of credit is awarded for completion of the spring and subsequent fall term offerings. Application required; consult MCSC website for more information.
Fall: D. Plata
Spring: D. Plata
No required or recommended textbooks

11.UR Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in Urban Studies and Planning. For further information, consult the Departmental Coordinators.
Fall: S. Elliott
IAP: S. Elliott
Spring: S. Elliott
Textbooks arranged individually

11.URG Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in Urban Studies and Planning. For further information, consult the Departmental Coordinators.
Fall: S. Elliott
IAP: S. Elliott
Spring: S. Elliott
Textbooks arranged individually

11.THT[J] Thesis Research Design Seminar
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 4.THT[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Designed for students writing a thesis in Urban Studies and Planning or Architecture. Develop research topics, review relevant research and scholarship, frame research questions and arguments, choose an appropriate methodology for analysis, and draft introductory and methodology sections.
C. Abbanat

11.THU Undergraduate Thesis
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 11.THT
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research leading to the writing of an SB thesis. To be arranged by the student under approved supervision.
Fall: S. Elliott
IAP: S. Elliott
Spring: S. Elliott
Textbooks arranged individually

11.189-11.190 Urban Fieldwork
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
11.189: TBA.
11.190: TBA.
______
Practical application of city and regional planning techniques to towns, cities, and regions, including problems of replanning, redevelopment, and renewal of existing communities. Includes internships, under staff supervision, in municipal and state agencies and departments.
Fall: S. Elliott
Spring: S. Elliott
11.189: No textbook information available
11.190: No textbook information available

11.191-11.192 Independent Study
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
11.191: TBA.
11.192: TBA.
______
For undergraduates wishing to pursue further study in specialized areas of urban studies or city and regional planning not covered in regular subjects.
Fall: S. Elliott
IAP: S. Elliott
Spring: S. Elliott
11.191: No textbook information available
11.192: No required or recommended textbooks (IAP 2025); No textbook information available (Spring 2025)

11.193-11.194 Supervised Readings
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
11.193: TBA.
11.194: TBA.
______
Reading and discussion of topics in urban studies and planning.
Fall: S. Elliott
Spring: S. Elliott
11.193: No textbook information available
11.194: No textbook information available

11.S03 Special Subject: Transportation Shaping Sustainable Urbanization: Connections with Behavior, Urban Economics and Planning
______

Undergrad (Fall); partial term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Explores changes in the built environment expected from transportation investments, and how they can be used to promote sustainable and equitable cities. Reflects on how notable characteristics of cities can be explained by their historical and current transportation features. Introduces theoretical basis and empirical evidence to analyze the urban transformation autonomous vehicles will bring and how shared mobility services affect travel behavior, and its implications from an urban planning perspective. Lectures interspersed with guest speakers and an optional field trip. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Licensed for Fall 2023 by the Committee on Curricula. Limited to 18.
Staff

11.S04 Special Subject: Topics in Affordable Housing
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Weekly seminar-style discussions on topics in affordable housing, including federal funding programs, homelessness prevention and shelters, local land use and zoning for affordability, innovative housing models/designs, fair housing laws, the history of public housing in the US, and international comparisons. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students.
Staff

11.S187 Special Subject: Urban Studies and Planning
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
Lecture: W2-5 (9-450A)
______
For undergraduates wishing to pursue further study or fieldwork in specialized areas of urban studies or city and regional planning not covered in regular subjects of instruction.
Fall: R. Almeida, R. Chin
Spring: K. Crockett
No textbook information available

11.S188 Special Subject: Urban Studies and Planning
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
For undergraduates wishing to pursue further study or fieldwork in specialized areas of urban studies or city and regional planning not covered in regular subjects of instruction.
Fall: J. Pierite
IAP: J. Ferreira, C. Cong
No textbook information available

11.S189 Special Subject: Urban Studies and Planning
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: R10-12 (9-450)
______
For undergraduates wishing to pursue further study or fieldwork in specialized areas of urban studies or city and regional planning not covered in regular subjects of instruction.
Gilad Rosenzweig, Lobna Agbaria, Peter Krause
No textbook information available

11.S195 Special Subject: Urban Studies and Planning
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
11.S195: TBA.
Subject Cancelled 11.S197 Cancelled
______
For undergraduates wishing to pursue further study or fieldwork in specialized areas of urban studies or city and regional planning not covered in regular subjects of instruction.
Fall: J. Aloisi
Spring: B. Rajagopal
11.S195: No textbook information available

11.S196-11.S199 Special Subject: Urban Studies and Planning
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
11.S195: TBA.
Subject Cancelled 11.S197 Cancelled
______
For undergraduates wishing to pursue further study or fieldwork in specialized areas of urban studies or city and regional planning not covered in regular subjects of instruction. 11.S198 is graded P/D/F.
Staff
11.S195: No textbook information available


left arrow | Undergraduate: 11.00-11.199
plus UROP, THU, THT
| Graduate: 11.20-11.299 | Graduate: 11.30-11.999 plus THG | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 12: Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
IAP/Spring 2025


Undergraduate Subjects

Core and General Science Subjects

12.00 Frontiers and Careers in Earth, Planets, Climate, and Life
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-0 [P/D/F]
______
Provides a broad overview of topics, technologies, and career paths at the forefront of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences. Introduces the complex interplay between physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and computational methods used to study processes associated with a changing Earth and climate, distant planets, and life. Sessions guided by faculty members discussing current research problems, and by EAPS alumni describing how their careers have evolved. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students.
Staff

12.000 Solving Complex Problems
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-2-6
______
Provides an opportunity for entering freshmen to gain firsthand experience in integrating the work of small teams to develop effective solutions to complex problems in Earth system science and engineering. Each year's class explores a different problem in detail through the study of complementary case histories and the development of creative solution strategies. Includes exercises in website development, written and oral communication, and team building. Subject required for students in the Terrascope freshman program, but participation in Terrascope is not required of all 12.000 students. Students who pass 12.000 are eligible to participate in the Terrascope field trip the following spring. Limited to freshmen.
D. McGee, A. Epstein

12.001 Introduction to Geology
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: None
Units: 3-4-5
______
Major minerals and rock types, rock-forming processes, and time scales. Temperatures, pressures, compositions, structure of the Earth, and measurement techniques. Geologic structures and relationships observable in the field. Sediment movement and landform development by moving water, wind, and ice. Crustal processes and planetary evolution in terms of global plate tectonics with an emphasis on ductile and brittle processes. Includes laboratory exercises on minerals, rocks, mapping, plate tectonics, rheology, glaciers. Two one-day field trips (optional).
T. Bosak, O. Jagoutz

12.002 Introduction to Geophysics and Planetary Science
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics II (GIR)
Units: 3-1-8
Lecture: WF1.30-3 (54-915) +final
______
Study of the structure, composition, and physical processes governing the terrestrial planets, including their formation and basic orbital properties. Topics include plate tectonics, earthquakes, seismic waves, rheology, impact cratering, gravity and magnetic fields, heat flux, thermal structure, mantle convection, deep interiors, planetary magnetism, and core dynamics. Suitable for majors and non-majors seeking general background in geophysics and planetary structure.
G. Stucky de Quay, W. Frank
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

12.003 Introduction to Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: WF10-11.30 (55-109)
______
Introduces the dynamical processes that govern the atmosphere, oceans, and climate. Topics include Earth's radiation budget, convection and clouds, the circulation of the atmosphere and ocean, and climate change. Illustrates underlying mechanisms through laboratory demonstrations with a rotating table, and through analysis of atmospheric and oceanic data.
W. Kang, J. de Wit
No textbook information available

12.004 Introduction to Chemistry of Habitable Environments
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR)
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to the central roles of chemistry and biology on Earth that underlie modern climate, climate history, and global elemental cycles. Topics include the interactions of chemistry and biology in atmospheric, aquatic, and terrestrial systems. Fundamental principles of redox, equilibria, and acid/base reactions are explored via their links in the Earth system and with respect to climate feedbacks and ecosystem dynamics, providing perspectives for the future of our planet and beyond.
A. Babbin, M. Follows

12.006[J] Nonlinear Dynamics: Chaos
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.050[J], 18.353[J])
Prereq: Physics II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to nonlinear dynamics and chaos in dissipative systems. Forced and parametric oscillators. Phase space. Periodic, quasiperiodic, and aperiodic flows. Sensitivity to initial conditions and strange attractors. Lorenz attractor. Period doubling, intermittency, and quasiperiodicity. Scaling and universality. Analysis of experimental data: Fourier transforms, Poincare sections, fractal dimension, and Lyapunov exponents. Applications to mechanical systems, fluid dynamics, physics, geophysics, and chemistry. See 12.207J/18.354J for Nonlinear Dynamics: Continuum Systems.
R. Rosales

12.007 Geobiology: History of Life on Earth
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (54-1623)
______
Surveys the interactive Earth system: biology in geologic, environmental and climate change throughout Earth's history. Introduces the concept of "life as a geological agent" and examines the interaction between biology and the Earth system during the roughly 4 billion years since life first appeared. Topics include the origin of the solar system and the early Earth atmosphere; the origin and evolution of life and its influence on climate up through and including the modern age and the problem of global warming; the global carbon cycle; and astrobiology.
G. Fournier
No textbook information available

12.009[J] Nonlinear Dynamics: The Natural Environment
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 18.352[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics I (GIR); Coreq: 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
______
Analyzes cooperative processes that shape the natural environment, now and in the geologic past. Emphasizes the development of theoretical models that relate the physical and biological worlds, the comparison of theory to observational data, and associated mathematical methods. Topics include carbon cycle dynamics; ecosystem structure, stability and complexity; mass extinctions; biosphere-geosphere coevolution; and climate change. Employs techniques such as stability analysis; scaling; null model construction; time series and network analysis.
D. H. Rothman

12.010 Computational Methods of Scientific Programming
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introductory subject exposes students to modern programming methods and techniques used in practice by physical scientists today. Emphasis on code design, algorithm development/verification, and comparative advantages/disadvantages of different languages (including Python, Julia and C/C++) and tools (including Jupyter, machine-learning from data or models, cloud and high-performance computing workflows). Students are introduced to and work with common programming tools, types of problems, and techniques for solving a variety of data analytic and equation modeling scenarios from real research: examination visualization techniques; basic numerical analysis; methods of dissemination and verification; practices for reproducible work, version control, documentation, and sharing/publication. No prior programming experience is required.
T. Herring, C. Hill

12.011[J] Archaeological Science
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 3.985[J], 5.24[J])
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR) or Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-1-5
Lecture: M EVE (7-10 PM) (6-120)
______
Pressing issues in archaeology as an anthropological science. Stresses the natural science and engineering methods archaeologists use to address these issues. Reconstructing time, space, and human ecologies provides one focus; materials technologies that transform natural materials to material culture provide another. Topics include 14C dating, ice core and palynological analysis, GIS and other remote sensing techniques for site location, organic residue analysis, comparisons between Old World and New World bronze production, invention of rubber by Mesoamerican societies, analysis and conservation of Dead Sea Scrolls.
J. Meanwell
No textbook information available

12.012 MatLab, Statistics, Regression, Signal Processing
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.444)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the basic tools needed for data analysis and interpretation in the Geosciences, as well as other sciences. Composed of four modules, targeted at introducing students to the basic concepts and applications in each module. MatLab: Principles and practice in its uses, script and function modules, basic approaches to solving problems. Statistics: Correlation, means, dispersion, precision, accuracy, distributions, central limit theorem, skewness, probability, Chi-Square, Gaussian and other common distributions used in hypothesis testing. Regression: Random and grid search methods, basic least squares and algorithms applicable to regression, inversion and parameter estimation. Signal Processing: Analog and digital signals, Z-transform, Fourier series, fast Fourier transforms, spectral analysis leakage and bias, digital filtering. Students taking the graduate version complete different assignments.
T. Herring, S. Ravela

12.021 Earth Science, Energy, and the Environment
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-1-8
______
Provides understanding of the Earth System most relevant to production of our planet's natural energy resources, including the physics, chemistry, and biology of conventional and alternative energy sources. Includes a broad overview of traditional and alternative energy sources: hydrocarbons (conventional and unconventional), nuclear, geothermal, hydroelectric, and wind and tides, along with their potentials and limitations. Develops detailed knowledge of the formation, concentration, and production of fossil and nuclear fuels, as well as the waste products associated with their consumption. An examination of conventional and alternative energy sources includes the environmental issues associated with the exploitation of these resources, both regional and global.
B. Hager

12.031[J] Fundamentals of Ecology
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 1.018[J], 7.30[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Fundamentals of ecology, considering Earth as an integrated dynamic living system. Coevolution of the biosphere and geosphere, biogeochemical cycles, metabolic diversity, primary productivity, competition and the niche, trophic dynamics and food webs, population growth and limiting factors. Population modeling, global carbon cycle, climate change, geoengineering, theories of resource competition and mutualism, allometric scaling, ecological genomics, niche theory, human population growth. Applied ecology.
O. Cordero, D. McRose, C. Terrer

12.080 Experiential Learning in EAPS
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
For Course 12 students participating in off-campus professional experiences related to their course of study. Before registering for this subject, students must have an offer from a company or organization, must identify an EAPS advisor, and must receive prior approval from their advisor. Upon completion of the experience, student must submit a letter from the company or organization describing what the student accomplished, along with a substantive final report from the student approved by the EAPS advisor. Consult departmental academic office.
EAPS Faculty

12.086 Modeling Environmental Complexity
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 12.586)
Prereq: 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to mathematical and physical models of environmental processes. Emphasis on the development of macroscopic continuum or statistical descriptions of complex microscopic dynamics. Problems of interest include: random walks and statistical geometry of landscapes; percolation theory and transport in disordered media; fractals, scaling, and universality; ecological dynamics and the structure of ecosystems, food webs, and other natural networks; kinetics of biogeochemical cycles. Appropriate for advanced undergraduates. Beginning graduate students are encouraged to register for 12.586. Students taking the graduate version complete different assignments.
D. H. Rothman

12.090 Current Topics in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Laboratory or field work in earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences. Consult with department Education Office.
Fall: G. Fournier
Spring: D. Rothman

12.091 Current Topics in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Laboratory or field work in earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences. Consult with department Education Office.
C. Hill, L. Milechin, J. Mullen
No textbook information available

12.092 Current Topics in Geology and Geochemistry
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Laboratory or field work in geology and geochemistry. Consult with department Education Office.
Staff

12.093 Current Topics in Geology and Geochemistry
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Laboratory or field work in geology and geochemistry. To be arranged with department faculty. Consult with department Education Office.
Staff

12.094 Current Topics in Geophysics
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Laboratory or field work in geophysics. Consult with department Education Office.
Staff

12.095 Current Topics in Geophysics
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Laboratory, data analysis, system modeling or field work in geophysics. To be arranged with department faculty. Consult with department Education Office.
Staff

12.096 Current Topics in Atmospheric Science and Oceanography
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Laboratory or field work in atmospheric science and oceanography. To be arranged with department faculty. Consult with department Education Office.
Staff

12.097 Current Topics in Atmospheric Science and Oceanography
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Laboratory or field work in atmospheric science and oceanography. To be arranged with department faculty. Consult with department Education Office.
Staff

12.098 Current Topics in Planetary Science
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Laboratory or field work in planetary science. To be arranged with department faculty. Consult with department Education Office.
Staff

12.099 Current Topics in Planetary Science
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Laboratory or field work in planetary science. To be arranged with department faculty. Consult with department Education Office.
Staff

12.C25[J] Real World Computation with Julia
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.C25[J], 6.C25[J], 16.C25[J], 18.C25[J], 22.C25[J])
Prereq: 6.100A, 18.03, and 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on algorithms and techniques for writing and using modern technical software in a job, lab, or research group environment that may consist of interdisciplinary teams, where performance may be critical, and where the software needs to be flexible and adaptable. Topics include automatic differentiation, matrix calculus, scientific machine learning, parallel and GPU computing, and performance optimization with introductory applications to climate science, economics, agent-based modeling, and other areas. Labs and projects focus on performant, readable, composable algorithms, and software. Programming will be in Julia. Expects students to have some familiarity with Python, Matlab, or R. No Julia experience necessary.
A. Edelman, R. Ferrari, B. Forget, C. Leiseron,Y. Marzouk, J. Williams

Geology and Geochemistry

12.100 Plate Tectonics and Climate
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.475)
Prereq: 12.001 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Explores plate tectonics and the fundamental relationship between tectonic systems and global climate. Provides an in-depth study of plate tectonics, encompassing sea floor spreading, continental rifting, mountain and basin formation, and subduction. Examines the profound effects of tectonic activity on global climate, emphasizing the critical links between solid earth processes and long-term climate change and offering a holistic view of our planet's intricate systems. Regional case studies present examples of the complex interconnections along Earth's long history. An optional weekend field trip brings concepts encountered in class into tangible, real-world context. Expectations differ for students taking graduate version.
O. Jagoutz, L. H. Royden, K. Bergmann

12.104 Geochemistry of Natural Waters
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 12.494)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 3-2-7
Lecture: TR9-10.30 (4-457)
______
Equips students with the fundamental skills to identify major controls on the chemistry of waters on the Earth. Students examine key concepts, theories and practical tools (e.g., pH, Eh, alkalinity, surface charge, speciation, and carbonate equilibrium) and apply them as tools to understand and make predictions for the biogeochemical cycles of the Earth systems. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Ono
No textbook information available

12.108 Earth Materials: Minerals and Rocks
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR)
Units: 3-4-5
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (54-819) Lab: T2-5 (54-819)
______
Provides an integrated survey of rocks and rock-forming minerals. Introduces the fundamentals of crystal structure and mineral chemistry and explore mineral and rock formation mechanisms across Earth and planetary surfaces and interiors. Links mineral assemblages to the chemical compositions of rocks within the Earth's crust and upper mantle and to specific tectonic environments. Students investigate the chemistry and physics of rock formation mechanisms, crust and mantle melting dynamics, and the geochemical and mineralogical signatures of igneous rocks and metamorphic processes. Laboratory component includes both specimen-level work and petrography.
N. Nie
No textbook information available

12.110A Sedimentary Environments
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) Partial Lab; first half of term
(Subject meets with 12.465A)
Prereq: 12.001 or 12.11
Units: 2-1-3
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR10-11.30 (54-819)
______
Covers the basic concepts of sedimentation from the properties of individual grains to large-scale basin analysis. Lectures cover sediment textures and composition, fluid flow and sediment transport, and formation of sedimentary structures. Depositional models, for both modern and ancient environments are a major component and are studied in detail with an eye toward interpretation of depositional processes and reconstructing paleoenvironments from the rock record. Satisfies 6 units of Institute Laboratory credit. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
L. Nelson
No textbook information available

12.110B Sedimentology in the Field
______

Undergrad (Spring) Partial Lab Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
(Subject meets with 12.465B)
Prereq: 12.110A
Units: 2-2-5
Begins Mar 31. Lab: TR10-11.30 (54-819)
______
Examines the fundamentals of sedimentary deposits and geological reasoning through first hand fieldwork. Students practice methods of modern geological field study off-campus during a required trip over spring break making field observations, measuring stratigraphic sections and making a sedimentological map. Relevant topics introduced are map and figure making in ArcGIS and Adobe Illustrator and sedimentary petrology. Culminates in an oral and written report built around data gathered in the field. Field sites and intervals of geologic time studied rotate annually and include Precambrian, Phanerozoic and Modern depositional environments. Satisfies 6 units of Institute Laboratory credit. May be taken multiple times for credit. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
L. Nelson
No textbook information available

12.113 Structural Geology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 12.001
Units: 3-3-6
______
Introduces mechanics of rock deformation. Discusses recognition, interpretation, and mechanics of faults, folds, structural features of igneous and metamorphic rocks, and superposed deformations. Introduces regional structural geology and tectonics. Laboratory includes techniques of structural analysis, recognition and interpretation of structures on geologic maps, and construction of interpretive cross sections.
Staff

12.115 Field Geology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (IAP) Partial Lab
Prereq: 12.113
Units: 0-9-0
______
Introduction to the methods of modern geological field study off-campus during an intensive two-week experience. Exercises include geological and geomorphological mapping on topographic and photographic base maps of a wide variety of bedrock and surficial rocks. Where feasible, geochemical and geophysical field measurements are corrrelated with geology. Location is usually in the western US. Contact department regarding travel fee and resources for funding opportunities. Meets with 12.482 when offered concurrently. Satisfies 9 units of Institute Laboratory credit.
O. Jagoutz, K. Bergmann

12.116 Analysis of Geologic Data
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) Partial Lab
Prereq: 12.115
Units: 0-2-4
______
Includes in-depth laboratory analysis of samples, interpretation of geological data, and where possible, geophysical and geochemical data. Includes the preparation of reports based on the field studies conducted in 12.115 during January; report generally exceeds 30 pages in length and includes one major revision and rewrite. Instruction in writing techniques provided. Contact department regarding travel fee and resources for funding opportunities. Satisfies 3 units of Institute Laboratory credit.
O. Jagoutz

12.117A Field Geobiology I
______

Undergrad (Spring); first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 12.487A)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 12.001 or 12.007
Units: 2-1-3
______
Examines basic biological processes that operate in sediments. Lectures cover biological, physical and chemical processes that influence the formation and stabilization of sediments, including biomineralization, weathering, erosion, the formation of sedimentary structures and interactions with sediments, flow, and the cycles of nutrients. Lab covers analytical methods used to examine microbial processes, bioinformatic methods used to analyze microbial communities, and techniques used to analyze sediment grain sizes and chemistry. Readings and discussions provide preparation for the 12.117B field trip to a modern sedimentary environment. Enables students to interpret processes in modern sedimentary environments, reconstruct similar processes in the rock record, collect appropriate samples in the field, and analyze microbiological data. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
T. Bosak

12.117B Field Geobiology II
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 12.487B)
Prereq: 12.117A
Units: 2-2-5
______
Teaches fundamentals of field observations and reasoning in geobiology/sedimentology during a required trip to a modern sedimentary environment over spring break, followed by laboratory analyses of collected samples. Students make observations, develop hypotheses, collect samples required to test their hypotheses and interact with lecturers and students investigating the sedimentology of the site. Upon return to MIT, students work on field samples to characterize the sediments, use the preliminary data to develop an understanding of the field site, and write research reports. Students taking graduate version write proposals that present a research question based on the field observations and subsequent analyses. Meets with 12.110B and 12.465B when those subjects examine modern sedimentary environments.
T. Bosak

12.119 Harnessing Power from Environmental Microbes and Chemical Gradients
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Biology (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), or 12.007
Units: 2-2-5
______
Provides practical instruction on how to make living batteries. Lectures cover the basics of marine and freshwater chemistry and biogeochemistry (pH, redox potential, organic loading, free energy for growth, chemical profiles, sampling and measurement methods). Students explore sediment biogeochemistry by analyzing mineral types and grain sizes, setting up microbial enrichment cultures, and sampling and characterizing microbes and environmental chemistry by microscopy, chemical assays of pore fluids, and bioinformatics tools. Subsequent lab activities teach students to develop and use electrochemical tools to build microbial batteries that can power light sources and instruments. Discussion and reading cover real-world applications of microbial fuel cells.
T. Bosak, S. Ono

12.12 Nature's Sandbox: The History of Ancient Environments, Climate, and Life
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 1-1-1 [P/D/F]
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: R3.30 (54-819)
______
Series of field adventures to survey Earth's history and landscape through a combination of online and in-person instruction, with virtual field trips to Svalbard, Norway, the Death Valley area and Northern Minnesota. In these key sites, students explore the interactions between Earth's surface environments and life, and critical transitions in each. Includes weekly in-class paper discussions and experiential exercises. Three optional one-day field trips provide opportunity to explore the amazing sedimentary record preserved close to MIT. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students.
K. Bergmann
No textbook information available

12.141 Electron Microprobe Analysis
______

Undergrad (IAP)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-1-4 [P/D/F]
______
Introduction to the theory of x-ray microanalysis through the electron microprobe including ZAF matrix corrections. Techniques to be discussed are wavelength and energy dispersive spectrometry, scanning backscattered electron, secondary electron, cathodoluminescence, and x-ray imaging. Lab sessions involve use of the electron microprobe.
Staff

12.163 Geomorphology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.463)
Prereq: (Calculus I (GIR), Physics I (GIR), and 12.001) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
______
Quantitative examination of processes that shape Earth's surface. Introduction to fluvial, hillslope, and glacial mechanics. Essentials of weathering, soil formation, runoff, erosion, slope stability, sediment transport, and river morphology. Landscape evolution in response to climatic and tectonic forcing. Application of terrestrial theory to planetary surfaces. Additional instruction in geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing analysis, field measurement techniques, and numerical modeling of surface processes. Students taking the graduate version complete different assignments.
T. Perron

12.170 Essentials of Geology
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 12.470)
Prereq: (Calculus II (GIR) and Physics II (GIR)) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Studies the geology of planetary interiors and surfaces, including plate tectonics, as a unifying theory of terrestrial geology, surface processes, and the Earth's interior. Covers igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary processes associated with tectonic settings and the typical rock suites created; mineral and rock identification; and causes of compositional differences on many scales (mineral grains, rocks, regions of the Earth, different planets). Also addresses conditions required for melting and melting processes; rock structure and field techniques; and Earth history. Treatment of these topics includes discussions of the geochemical, petrologic, geochronological, experimental, or field techniques used to investigate them; the limitations of current geological techniques and geological controversies; and major geological expeditions, experiments, and studies from the past, along with their premises and results. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

12.177 Astrobiology, Origins and Early Evolution of Life
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.477)
Prereq: Biology (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an understanding of major areas of research into the problem of the origin of life on the early Earth from an astrobiological perspective. Topics include the timing, setting and conditions for the origin of life on the Hadean Earth; roles of planetary and extra-planetary processes; defining life; prebiotic chemistry; origins of nucleic acids and peptides; evolution of cellularity, replication, metabolism, and translation; establishment of the genetic code; biogenesis vs. ecogenesis; the nature of the last common ancestor of life; conceptualizing the "tree of life;" and the early evolution of the ancestors of bacteria, archaeal, and eukaryal lineages. Students taking graduate version complete an extra project.
G. Fournier

12.178 The Phylogenomic Planetary Record
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.478)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the tools of sequence-based phylogenetic analysis and molecular evolution in the context of studying events in Earth's deep past that have been preserved by genomes. Topics include basic concepts of cladistics, phylogeny and sequence evolution, construction of phylogenetic trees of genes and microbial lineages, molecular clocks, dating, and ancestral sequence reconstruction. Special attention to the evolutionary history of microbial metabolisms and their relationship to global biogeochemical cycles across Earth's history. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
G. Fournier

Geophysics

12.201 Essentials of Global Geophysics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.501)
Prereq: Physics II (GIR) and 18.03
Units: 4-0-8
______
Overview of basic topics in solid-earth geophysics, such as the Earth's rotation, gravity and magnetic field, seismology, and thermal structure. Formulation of physical principles presented in three one-hour lectures per week. Current applications discussed in an additional one-hour tutorial each week. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
R. van der Hilst

12.202 Flow, Deformation, and Fracture in Earth and Other Terrestrial Bodies
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.502)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-2-7
______
Covers fundamentals of deformation and fracture of solids and the flow of viscous fluids. Explores spatial scales from molecular to planetary, and time scales from fractions of a second to millions of years, to understand how and why natural materials on Earth and other terrestrial bodies respond to applied forces. Fundamental concepts include the principles of continuum mechanics, tensor representation of physical properties, forces, tractions, stresses, strain theory, elasticity, contact problems, fracture and friction, and viscous flow and rheological models (plasticity, viscosity, viscoelasticity, elasto-plasticity). Students gather, analyze and interpret data using existing theoretical models. Includes a significant laboratory component that provides practical experience with experimental measurements and tests students' acquired theoretical knowledge. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
B. Minchew, M. Pec

12.203 Mechanics of Earth
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 12.503)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-2-7
______
Covers topics in the deformation and fracture of solids and the flow of viscous fluids. Explores spatial scales from molecular to planetary, and time scales from fractions of a second to millions of years, to understand how and why natural materials on Earth and other terrestrial bodies respond to applied forces. Introduces anelasticity, granular mechanics, poroelasticity, rate-and-state friction, transport properties of Earth materials (Darcy's law, Fick's law), brittle-ductile transitions, creep of polycrystalline materials, stored energy and dissipation, and convection. Prepares students to gather, analyze and interpret data using existing theoretical models. Through a significant laboratory component, students obtain practical experience with experimental measurements and test their acquired theoretical knowledge. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
B. Minchew, M. Pec

12.207[J] Nonlinear Dynamics: Continuum Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.062[J], 18.354[J])
(Subject meets with 18.3541)
Prereq: Physics II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (2-143)
______
General mathematical principles of continuum systems. From microscopic to macroscopic descriptions in the form of linear or nonlinear (partial) differential equations. Exact solutions, dimensional analysis, calculus of variations and singular perturbation methods. Stability, waves and pattern formation in continuum systems. Subject matter illustrated using natural fluid and solid systems found, for example, in geophysics and biology.
N. Derr
No textbook information available

12.210 Introduction to Seismology
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.510)
Prereq: 18.075 or 18.085
Units: 3-1-8
______
A basic study in seismology and the utilization of seismic waves for the study of Earth's interior. Introduces techniques necessary for understanding of elastic wave propagation in stratified media and for calculation of synthetic seismograms (WKBJ and mode summation). Ray theory; interpretation of travel times. (e.g., tomography); surface wave dispersion in layered media; Earth's free oscillations; and seismicity, (earthquake locations, magnitude, moment, and source properties). Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
W. Frank

12.211 Field Geophysics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (IAP); partial term
(Subject meets with 12.511)
Prereq: 12.214 or permission of instructor
Units: 1-4-1
______
Covers practical methods of modern geophysics, including the global positioning system (GPS), gravity, and magnetics. Field work is conducted in western US and includes intensive 10-day field exercise. Focuses on measurement techniques and their interpretation. Introduces the science of gravity, magnetics, and the GPS. Measures crustal structure, fault motions, tectonic deformations, and the local gravity and magnetic fields. Students perform high-precision measurements and participate in data analysis. Emphasizes principles of geophysical data collection and the relevance of these data for tectonic faulting, crustal structure, and the dynamics of the earthquake cycle. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

12.212 Field Geophysics Analysis
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring); first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 12.512)
Prereq: 12.211
Units: 2-0-4
______
Focuses on in-depth data analysis and development of skills needed to report results both in writing and orally. Students use data collected in 12.211 to develop written and oral reports of the results, with each student focusing on a different area such as developing the geophysical modeling or synthesis of the results into other studies in the area. The final written and oral reports are combined into a comprehensive report and presentation of the field camp and its results. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
W. Frank, B. Minchew

12.213 Alternate Energy Sources
______

Undergrad (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-4-1 [P/D/F]
______
Explores a number of alternative energy sources such as geothermal energy (heat from the Earth's interior), wind, natural gas, and solar energy. Includes a field trip to visit sites where alternative energy is being harvested or generated. Content and focus of subject varies from year to year.
Staff

12.214 Essentials of Field Geophysics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.507)
Prereq: Physics II (GIR), 6.100A, and 18.03
Units: 3-3-6
______
Introduces students to the practical field application of various geophysical methods to studying Earth's near-surface and prepares students to undertake fieldwork that uses these methods. Methods covered include but are not limited to measuring seismic waves, gravity, precise positions (commonly referred to as GPS but formally known as GNSS), and topography using drones. Lab time involves local fieldwork to gain experience with the methods being taught. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
W. Frank, B. Minchew

12.225 Mechanisms of Faulting and Earthquakes
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.525)
Prereq: 12.002 and (12.010, 12.012, 18.C25, (6.100A and 6.100B), or permission of instructor)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the fundamental mechanics of faulting and earthquakes from four related perspectives: seismology, geodesy, geodynamics, and rheology. Topics to be covered include: the physical processes that control the rheology of faults, including friction and fracture; how these rheological processes are manifest in faulting and earthquakes in the earth from a geodynamics perspective; and how the mechanics of faulting and earthquakes are constrained by seismological and geodetic observations. Features both continental and oceanic examples of faulting and earthquakes. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

Atmospheres, Oceans, and Climate

12.300[J] Global Change Science
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.071[J])
(Subject meets with 1.771)
Prereq: 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (48-308)
______
Introduces the basic principles and concepts in atmospheric physics, and climate dynamics, through an examination of: greenhouse gases emissions (mainly CO2), global warming, and regional climate change. Case studies are presented for the regional impacts of climate change on extreme weather, water availability, and disease transmission. Introduction to regional and global environmental problems for students in basic sciences and engineering. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. Eltahir
No required or recommended textbooks

12.301 Climate Science
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.842)
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR), 18.03, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to climate studies, including beginnings of the solar system, time scales, and climate in human history; methods for detecting climate change, including proxies, ice cores, instrumental records, and time series analysis; physical and chemical processes in climate, including primordial atmosphere, ozone chemistry, carbon and oxygen cycles, and heat and water budgets; internal feedback mechanisms, including ice, aerosols, water vapor, clouds, and ocean circulation; climate forcing, including orbital variations, volcanism, plate tectonics, and solar variability; climate models and mechanisms of variability, including energy balance, coupled models, and global ocean and atmosphere models; and outstanding problems. Students taking the graduate version complete different assignments.
A. Fiore, P. O'Gorman, D. McGee

12.306 Atmospheric Chemistry Models & Climate
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 10.571[J], 12.806[J])
Prereq: (18.075 and (5.60 or 5.61)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1.30-3 (54-517)
______
Introduction to the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere including experience with computer codes. Aerosols and theories of their formation, evolution, and removal. Gas and aerosol transport from urban to continental scales. Coupled models of radiation, transport, and chemistry. Solution of inverse problems to deduce emissions and removal rates. Emissions control technology and costs. Applications to air pollution and climate. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
A. Fiore, R. G. Prinn
No textbook information available

12.307 Weather and Climate Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Spring) Institute Lab
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 1-4-7
Lecture: TR10-12 (54-517)
______
Engages students in projects involving rotating tank laboratory experiments, analysis of data on the sphere, and report writing and presentation. Project themes explore fundamentals of climate science and make contact points with major contemporary environmental challenges facing mankind. Examples include heat and moisture transport in the atmosphere; weather and weather extremes; aerosols, dust, and atmospheric pollution; ocean circulation and transport and plastics in the ocean. Develops skills for how to deal with noisy, imperfect data. Provides instruction and practice in written and oral communication.
T. Tamarin-Brodsky, J. Marshall
No textbook information available

12.310 An Introduction to Weather Forecasting
______

Undergrad (IAP)
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 1-1-4 [P/D/F]
______
Basic principles of synoptic meteorology and weather forecasting. Analysis of hourly weather data and numerical weather prediction models. Regular preparation of weather forecasts.
T. Tamarin Brodsky
Textbooks (IAP 2025)

12.314[J] Ocean Chemistry Change Laboratory
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) Partial Lab; first half of term
(Same subject as 5.009[J])
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR)
Units: 1-3-2
______
Introduces marine chemistry and explores how human activity is aggressively modifying Earth's climate system. Familiarizes students with instrumentation, techniques, and concepts utilized to investigate the ocean. Through lab work, students apply general chemistry principles to marine systems and develop new understanding of specific research problems within ocean chemistry and biogeochemistry. Satisfies 3 units of Institute Laboratory credit.
A. Babbin

12.315 Atmospheric Radiation and Convection
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 12.815)
Prereq: 12.390 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (54-820)
______
Introduction to the physics of atmospheric radiation, remote sensing, and convection, including use of computer codes. Radiative transfer equation including emission and scattering, spectroscopy, Mie theory, and numerical solutions. Physics of dry and moist convection, including moist thermodynamics. Radiative-convective equilibrium. Solution of inverse problems in remote sensing of atmospheric temperature and composition. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
T. Cronin
No textbook information available

12.318 Introduction to Atmospheric Data and Large-scale Dynamics
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.818)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 12.390
Units: 3-3-6
______
Provides a general introduction to meteorological data and analysis techniques, and their use in the MIT Synoptic Laboratory to study the phenomenology and dynamics of large-scale atmospheric flow. Illustrates balance concepts as applied to the dynamics of frontal and synoptic scales, using real-time upper-air and surface station data and gridded analyzed fields. Uses advanced meteorological software packages to access, manipulate, and graphically display the data. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
L. Illari

12.320A[J] Introduction to Hydrology and Water Resources
______

Undergrad (Fall); first half of term
(Same subject as 1.070A[J])
Prereq: 1.060A; Coreq: 1.061A and 1.106
Units: 2-0-4
______
Water in the environment; Water resource systems; The hydrologic cycle at its role in the climate system; Surface water and energy balance; evaporation and transpiration through vegetation; Precipitation formation, infiltration, storm runoff, and flood processes; Groundwater aquifers, subsurface flow and the hydraulics of wells.
D. Entekhabi

12.320B[J] Introduction to Hydrology Modeling
______

Undergrad (Fall); second half of term
(Same subject as 1.070B[J])
Prereq: 1.070A
Units: 2-0-4
______
Develops understanding of numerical modeling of aquifers, groundwater flow and contaminant transport, as well as uncertainty and risk analysis for water resources.
D. Entekhabi

12.330[J] Fluid Physics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.066[J], 8.292[J])
Prereq: 5.60, 8.044, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (5-217)
______
A physics-based introduction to the properties of fluids and fluid systems, with examples drawn from a broad range of sciences, including atmospheric physics and astrophysics. Definitions of fluids and the notion of continuum. Equations of state and continuity, hydrostatics and conservation of momentum; ideal fluids and Euler's equation; viscosity and the Navier-Stokes equation. Energy considerations, fluid thermodynamics, and isentropic flow. Compressible versus incompressible and rotational versus irrotational flow; Bernoulli's theorem; steady flow, streamlines and potential flow. Circulation and vorticity. Kelvin's theorem. Boundary layers. Fluid waves and instabilities. Quantum fluids.
L. Bourouiba
No textbook information available

12.335 Experimental Atmospheric Chemistry
______

Undergrad (Fall) Institute Lab
(Subject meets with 12.835)
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR)
Units: 2-4-6
______
Introduces the atmospheric chemistry involved in climate change, air pollution, and ozone depletion using a combination of interactive laboratory and field studies and simple computer models. Uses instruments for trace gas and aerosol measurements and methods for inferring fundamental information from these measurements. Provides instruction and practice in written and oral communication. Students taking the graduate version complete different assignments.
R. Prinn, S. Ono

12.336[J] Air Pollution and Atmospheric Chemistry
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.085[J])
(Subject meets with 1.855)
Prereq: 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a working knowledge of basic air quality issues, with emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach to investigating the sources and effects of pollution. Topics include emission sources; atmospheric chemistry and removal processes; meteorological phenomena and their impact on pollution transport at local to global scales; air pollution control technologies; health effects; and regulatory standards. Discusses regional and global issues, such as acid rain, ozone depletion and air quality connections to climate change. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Recommended for upper-level undergraduate students.
C. Heald

12.338 Aerosol and Cloud Microphysics and Chemistry
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 1.085, 12.335, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on understanding how aerosol particles form droplets or ice crystals during several atmospheric processes: determining Earth's radiative balance; heterogeneous chemistry and acid rain; understanding where, when and how much precipitation occurs. Provides tools for understanding the physics of aerosol and cloud element motion; the interaction of particles with water vapor, including phase changes and droplet and ice nucleation; the chemical composition of particles and the effect on cloud formation processes; and the effect of cloud processing on aerosol chemistry. Discusses relevant topics of contemporary interest, e.g., geoengineering and weather modification and volcanic effects. Students taking the graduate version complete different assignments.
Staff

12.346[J] Global Environmental Negotiations
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as IDS.062[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Practical introduction to global environmental negotiations designed for science and engineering students. Covers basic issues in international negotiations, such as North-South conflict, implementation and compliance, trade, and historical perspective on global environmental treaties. Offers hands-on practice in developing and interpreting international agreements through role-play simulations and observation of ongoing climate change negotiating processes. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
N. E. Selin

12.348[J] Global Climate Change: Economics, Science, and Policy
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 15.026[J])
Prereq: (Calculus II (GIR), 5.60, and 14.01) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Introduces scientific, economic, and ecological issues underlying the threat of global climate change, and the institutions engaged in negotiating an international response. Develops an integrated approach to analysis of climate change processes, and assessment of proposed policy measures, drawing on research and model development within the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. Graduate students are expected to explore the topic in greater depth through reading and individual research..
Staff

12.349 Mechanisms and Models of the Global Carbon Cycle
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 12.849)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Addresses changes in the ocean, terrestrial biosphere and rocks modulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide on timescales from months to millions of years. Includes feedbacks between carbon cycle and climate. Combines hands-on data analysis with the formulation of simple models rooted in basic physical, chemical and biological principles. Students create individual "toy" global carbon cycle models. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
M. Follows
No textbook information available

12.372 Elements of Modern Oceanography
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.702)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines a series of crosscutting topics that exemplify current directions in interdisciplinary oceanography. Focuses on current themes in oceanography, their interdisciplinary nature, and the role of ocean sciences in society. Introduces core concepts across the disciplines of biological, physical, and chemical oceanography as well as marine geology. Emphasizes the interdisciplinary aspects of these core concepts, the kinds of approaches and modes of thinking common to all of the disciplines, and the technological developments underpinning current advances. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
J. Pineda, M. Andres

12.373 Field Oceanography
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) Institute Lab
(Subject meets with 12.777)
Prereq: Biology (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and permission of instructor
Units: 3-7-5
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Provides an introduction to the biogeochemistry of the ocean, and the field techniques and methods used in its study. Emphasizes biogeochemistry and the interrelated nature of elemental cycling, but also examines physical transport and air-sea gas exchange. Covers multiple aspects related to field instrumentation and measurements, including nutrients, oxygen, the carbon system, temperature, salinity, and microbial analyses. Students analyze and synthesize experimental data collected during the term. Includes an optional week-long field trip aboard a research vessel in the field at a time to be determined; opportunities for funded travel available. Students work in groups to propose projects over the research expedition that utilize the field time to collect samples. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited.
A. R. Babbin

12.377 The History of Earth's Climate
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 12.707)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies the climate history of the Earth, from the formation of the early atmosphere and ocean to the present. Evaluates geochemical, sedimentological, and paleontological evidence for changes in ocean circulation, global temperatures, and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Covers theories and models of Phanerozoic climate change. Provides a long-term history of the global carbon cycle. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
K. Bergmann

12.384[J] Living Dangerously: Environmental Problems from 1900 to Today
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as STS.055[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: WF11.30-1 (54-915)
______
Historical overview of the interactions between people and their environments in the past 100 years. Focuses on the accelerating human impact on Earth, starting in the late 19th century and continuing to the present day. Covers case studies showing how people have become aware of their impacts on the environment, and, in turn, the environment's impacts upon human society and what humans have done to mitigate damages. Topics include: food safety and security, industrial agriculture, pesticides, nuclear energy and warfare, lead, smog, ozone depletion, and climate change. Limited to 18.
S. Solomon, K. Brown
No textbook information available

12.385 Science, Politics, and Environmental Policy
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 11.373[J], 12.885[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the role of science in US and international environmental policymaking. Surveys the methods by which scientists learn about the natural world; the treatment of science by experts, advocates, the media, and the public and the way science is used in legislative, administrative and judicial decision making. Through lectures, group discussions, and written essays, students develop a critical understanding of the role of science in environmental policy. Potential case studies include fisheries management, ozone depletion, global warming, smog, and endangered species. Students taking the graduate version complete different assignments. Limited to 22.
S. Solomon, J. Knox-Hayes

12.386[J] Environment and History
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.185[J], STS.031[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focusing on the period from 1500 to the present, explores the influence of climate, topography, plants, animals, and microorganisms on human history and the reciprocal influence of people on the environment. Topics include the European encounter with the Americas, the impact of modern technology, and the current environmental crisis. Enrollment limited.
Staff

12.387[J] People and the Planet: Environmental Governance and Science
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 15.874[J], IDS.063[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Introduces governance and science aspects of complex environmental problems and approaches to solutions. Introduces quantitative analyses and methodological tools to analyze environmental issues that have human and natural components. Demonstrates concepts through a series of in-depth case studies of environmental governance and science problems. Students develop writing, quantitative modeling, and analytical skills in assessing environmental systems problems and developing solutions. Through experiential activities, such as modeling and policy exercises, students engage with the challenges and possibilities of governance in complex, interacting systems, including biogeophysical processes and societal and stakeholder interactions.
A. Siddiqi

12.390 Fluid Dynamics of the Atmosphere and Ocean
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.800)
Prereq: 12.003
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to fluid dynamics. Students acquire an understanding of some of the basic concepts of fluid dynamics that are needed as a foundation for advanced coursework in atmospheric science, physical oceanography, ocean engineering, climate science, etc. Emphasizes fluid fundamentals, with an atmosphere/ocean twist. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Mahadevan, C. Cenedese

12.391 Current Topics in Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
______

Graduate (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Laboratory or field work in earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences. Consult with department Education Office.
C. Hill
No textbook information available

12.396[J] Leadership and Professional Strategies & Skills Training (LEAPS), Part I: Advancing Your Professional Strategies and Skills
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 5.961[J], 8.396[J], 9.980[J], 18.896[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR9.30-11 (32-082)
______
Part I (of two parts) of the LEAPS graduate career development and training series. Topics include: navigating and charting an academic career with confidence; convincing an audience with clear writing and arguments; mastering public speaking and communications; networking at conferences and building a brand; identifying transferable skills; preparing for a successful job application package and job interviews; understanding group dynamics and different leadership styles; leading a group or team with purpose and confidence. Postdocs encouraged to attend as non-registered participants. Limited to 80.
A. Frebel
No textbook information available

12.397[J] Leadership and Professional Strategies & Skills Training (LEAPS), Part II: Developing Your Leadership Competencies
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
(Same subject as 5.962[J], 8.397[J], 9.981[J], 18.897[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR9.30-11 (32-082)
______
Part II (of two parts) of the LEAPS graduate career development and training series. Topics covered include gaining self awareness and awareness of others, and communicating with different personality types; learning about team building practices; strategies for recognizing and resolving conflict and bias; advocating for diversity and inclusion; becoming organizationally savvy; having the courage to be an ethical leader; coaching, mentoring, and developing others; championing, accepting, and implementing change. Postdocs encouraged to attend as non-registered participants. Limited to 80.
D. Rigos
No textbook information available

Planetary Science and Astronomy

12.400 Our Space Odyssey
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Traces historical and scientific advancement of our understanding of Earth's cosmic context. Introduces basic physical principles by which planets form and create their associated features of rings, satellites, diverse landscapes, atmospheres, and climates. Includes the physics of asteroids and comets and their orbital characteristics and links to meteorites. Considers one of the most fundamental questions - whether or not we are alone - by detailing the scientific exploration goals to be achieved at the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
J. de Wit

12.402[J] Introduction to Astronomy
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 8.282[J])
Prereq: Physics I (GIR)
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (4-231) +final
______
Quantitative introduction to the physics of planets, stars, galaxies and our universe, from origin to ultimate fate, with emphasis on the physics tools and observational techniques that enable our understanding. Topics include our solar system, extrasolar planets; our Sun and other "normal" stars, star formation, evolution and death, supernovae, compact objects (white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars, stellar-mass black holes); galactic structure, star clusters, interstellar medium, dark matter; other galaxies, quasars, supermassive black holes, gravitational waves; cosmic large-scale structure, origin, evolution and fate of our universe, inflation, dark energy, cosmic microwave background radiation, gravitational lensing, 21cm tomography. Not usable as a restricted elective by Physics majors.
M. Tegmark
No textbook information available

12.409 Hands-On Astronomy: Observing Stars and Planets
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-3-2 [P/D/F]
Lecture: T4 (37-212) Lab: M EVE (7-10 PM) (37-294) or W EVE (7-10 PM) (37-294)
______
Background for, and techniques of, visual observation and electronic imaging of the Moon, planets, satellites, stars, and brighter deep-space objects. Weekly outdoor observing sessions using 8-inch diameter telescopes when weather permits. Indoor sessions introduce skills necessary for observation. Introduction to contemporary observational astronomy including astronomical computing, image and data processing, and how astronomers work. Student must maintain a careful and complete written log which is graded. Consumes an entire evening each week; 100% attendance at observing sessions required to pass. Enrollment limited; priority to first-year students.
M. Person
No textbook information available

12.410[J] Observational Techniques of Optical Astronomy
______

Undergrad (Fall) Institute Lab
(Same subject as 8.287[J])
Prereq: 8.282, 12.409, or other introductory astronomy course
Units: 3-4-8
______
Fundamental physical and optical principles used for astronomical measurements at visible wavelengths and practical methods of astronomical observations. Topics: astronomical coordinates, time, optics, telescopes, photon counting, signal-to-noise ratios, data analysis (including least-squares model fitting), limitations imposed by the Earth's atmosphere on optical observations, CCD detectors, photometry, spectroscopy, astrometry, and time variability. Project at Wallace Astrophysical Observatory. Written and oral project reports. Limited to 18; preference to Course 8 and Course 12 majors and minors.
M. Person, R. Teague

12.411 Astronomy Field Camp
______

Undergrad (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 12.410
Units: 0-6-3 [P/D/F]
______
Individual research projects in planetary science and astrophysics, involving supervised work at Teide Observatory on the island of Tenerife, Spain. Projects may include observations made using observatory telescope facilities. Project topics and objectives vary from year to year. Written and oral reports required. Limited to 6.
M. Person
No textbook information available

12.412 Meteorites, Cosmochemistry, and Solar System Formation
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.612)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
A broad introduction to cosmochemistry, the study of the solar system formation from a geochemical perspective. Examines how the current meteorite records are used to gain information on the processes that happened in the early solar system. Topics include the origin of elements and isotopes, chemical fractionations of them during different processes, meteorite records, pre-solar grains, cosmochemical models for the solar system formation, chronology of planetary bodies from radioactive isotopes, and analytical techniques commonly used in cosmochemistry. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
N. X. Nie

12.420 Essentials of Planetary Science
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.601)
Prereq: (8.03, 12.002, and 18.03) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Advanced applications of physical and chemical principles to the study of the solar system. Topics include terrestrial and giant planets, meteorites, asteroids, comets, Kuiper belt objects, rings, impact craters, interiors, surfaces, atmospheres, geomagnetism, cosmochemistry, remote sensing, formation and evolution of the solar system.
B. Weiss, J. de Wit

12.421 Physical Principles of Remote Sensing
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 12.621)
Prereq: Physics II (GIR) and 6.100A
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR10-11.30 (4-145)
______
Introduction to the physics of remote sensing with applications to the study of the Earth, Moon, planets and other solar system bodies, as well as to emerging fields, such as autonomous navigation. Includes the principles of optical, thermal, radar and lidar remote sensing. Covers fundamental properties of electromagnetic waves; principles of electromagnetic scattering from real and idealized materials, including various types of surfaces and vegetation; interaction of electromagnetic radiation with the atmosphere; and thermal and microwave emission from various media. Discusses past, present, and future remote sensing platforms along with the fundamentals of orbital mechanics and data processing tools and methods. Assignments require students to write simple computer programs and plot mathematical functions. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
B. Minchew, A. Siddiqi
No textbook information available

12.422 Planetary Atmospheres
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 12.622)
Prereq: 12.003 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a basic understanding of the physics and chemistry of planetary atmospheres. Explores the formation and evolution of atmospheres, their structure and dynamics, and what is known about their chemical composition. Pays particular attention to their energy balance. Also presents the current state of understanding of exoplanet atmospheres. Students taking graduate version complete an additional research project.
J. de Wit

12.425[J] Extrasolar Planets: Physics and Detection Techniques
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 8.290[J])
(Subject meets with 12.625)
Prereq: 8.03 and 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
______
Presents basic principles of planet atmospheres and interiors applied to the study of extrasolar planets. Focuses on fundamental physical processes related to observable extrasolar planet properties. Provides a quantitative overview of detection techniques. Introduction to the feasibility of the search for Earth-like planets, biosignatures and habitable conditions on extrasolar planets. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Seager

12.43[J] Space Systems Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 16.83[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: MW12.30-2 (4-149)
______
Design of a complete space system, including systems analysis, trajectory analysis, entry dynamics, propulsion and power systems, structural design, avionics, thermal and environmental control, human factors, support systems, and weight and cost estimates. Students participate in teams, each responsible for an integrated vehicle design, providing experience in project organization and interaction between disciplines. Includes several aspects of team communication including three formal presentations, informal progress reports, colleague assessments, and written reports. Course 16 students are expected to complete two professional or concentration subjects from the departmental program before taking this capstone. Offered alternate fall and spring terms.
K. Cahoy, G. Lordos
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

12.431[J] Space Systems Development
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) Institute Lab
(Same subject as 16.831[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-10-6
______
Students build a space system, focusing on refinement of sub-system designs and fabrication of full-scale prototypes. Sub-systems are integrated into a vehicle and tested. Sub-system performance is verified using methods of experimental inquiry, and is compared with physical models of performance and design goals. Communication skills are honed through written and oral reports. Formal reviews include the Implementation Plan Review and the Acceptance Review. Knowledge of the engineering design process is helpful.
K. Cahoy, G. Lordos

Independent Research Subjects

12.UAR[J] Climate and Sustainability Undergraduate Advanced Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 1.UAR[J], 3.UAR[J], 5.UAR[J], 11.UAR[J], 15.UAR[J], 22.UAR[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Lecture: MW4 (48-316)
______
Provides instruction in effective research, experiential projects, internships, and externships, including choosing and refining problems, surveying previous work and publications, industry best practices, design for robustness, technical presentation, authorship and collaboration, and ethics. Supporting content includes background and context pertaining to climate change and sustainability, as well as tools for sustainable design. Focus for project work includes research topics relevant to the MIT Climate & Sustainability Consortium (MCSC). Students engage in extensive written and oral communication exercises, in the context of an approved advanced research project. A total of 12 units of credit is awarded for completion of the spring and subsequent fall term offerings. Application required; consult MCSC website for more information.
Fall: D. Plata
Spring: D. Plata
No required or recommended textbooks

12.UR Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.
Fall: A. Greaney-Williams
IAP: A. Greaney-Williams
Spring: A. Greaney-Williams
No required or recommended textbooks

12.URG Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.
Fall: A. Greaney-Williams
IAP: A. Greaney-Williams
Spring: A. Greaney-Williams
No required or recommended textbooks

12.IND Independent Study
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Independent reading, laboratory, or fieldwork in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. To be arranged by student and an appropriate EAPS faculty member. A written report may be required at the discretion of the advisor. Units arranged should reflect the project requirements.
Fall: A. Greaney-Williams
IAP: A. Greaney-Williams
Spring: A. Greaney-Williams
No required or recommended textbooks

12.TIP Thesis Preparation
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Definition of and early-stage work on the thesis project. Students develop a written research proposal and begin writing the supporting text of the thesis concurrent with conducting research for the thesis project. Supervision of the writing continues into the spring term which concludes with an oral presentation of the research results.
K. Pepper

12.THU Undergraduate Thesis
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 12.TIP
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research leading to the writing of a thesis; to be arranged by the student and an appropriate MIT faculty member.
Fall: A. Greaney-Williams
IAP: A. Greaney-Williams
Spring: A. Greaney-Williams
No required or recommended textbooks


left arrow | 12.00-12.439 plus UROP, IND, TIP, THU | 12.44-12.599 plus THG | 12.600-12.999 | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 14: Economics
IAP/Spring 2025


General Economics and Theory

14.00 Undergraduate Internship in Economics
______

Undergrad (IAP, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
For Course 14 students participating in off-campus internship experiences in economics. Before registering for this subject, students must have an employment offer from a company or organization and must identify a Course 14 advisor. Upon completion of the internship, student must submit a letter from the employer describing the work accomplished, along with a substantive final report from the student approved by the MIT advisor. Subject to departmental approval. Consult departmental undergraduate office.
D. Donaldson
No textbook information available

14.000 Graduate Internship in Economics
______

Graduate (IAP, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
For Course 14 students participating in off-campus internship experiences in economics. Before registering for this subject, students must have an employment offer from a company or organization and must identify a Course 14 advisor. Upon completion of the internship, student must submit a letter from the employer describing the work accomplished, along with a substantive final report from the student approved by the MIT advisor. Subject to departmental approval. Consult departmental graduate office.
A. Banerjee
No textbook information available

14.001 Design of Policy Summer Internship
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Prereq: Permission of department
Units: 0-1-0
TBA.
______
Provides students in the DEDP Master's program the opportunity to synthesize their coursework and professional experience in policy, economics, and data analysis. In the context of a summer internship, students apply the knowledge gained in the program towards a project with a host organization, typically in the development or public policy sectors. Students will be supported in finding a suitable opportunity or research project. All internship placements are subject to approval by the program director. Each student must write a capstone project report. Restricted to DEDP MASc students.
Fall: S. Ellison
Spring: S. Ellison
No textbook information available

14.003 Microeconomic Theory and Public Policy
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with 14.03)
Prereq: 14.01 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW9-10.30 (32-141) Recitation: F9 (E51-361) or F10 (E51-149) +final
______
Students master and apply economic theory, causal inference, and contemporary evidence to analyze policy challenges. These include the effect of minimum wages on employment, the value of healthcare, the power and limitations of free markets, the benefits and costs of international trade, the causes and remedies of externalities, the consequences of adverse selection in insurance markets, the impacts of labor market discrimination, and the application of machine learning to supplement to decision-making. Class attendance and participation are mandatory. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Fall: D. Autor
Spring: T. Salz
No textbook information available

14.009 Economics and Society's Toughest Problems
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Should we trade more or less with China? Why are some countries poor, and some countries rich? Why are the 1% getting richer? Should the US have a universal basic income? Why is our society becoming so polarized? What can we do to mitigate climate change? Will robots take all the jobs? Why does racism persist and how can we fight it? What will the world economy look like after the COVID-19 recession? Economics shows you how to think about some of the toughest problems facing society — and how to use data to get answers. Features lectures by MIT's economics faculty, showing how their cutting-edge research can help answer these questions. In lieu of problem sets, quizzes, or other written assignments, students produce materials of their choice (podcasts, TikToks, longer videos) with the view to make a potential audience excited about economics. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students.
Consult Department Headquarters

14.01 Principles of Microeconomics
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1 (32-123) Recitation: F10 (6-120) or F12 (6-120) or F1 (6-120) or F2 (6-120) +final
______
Introduces microeconomic concepts and analysis, supply and demand analysis, theories of the firm and individual behavior, competition and monopoly, and welfare economics. Applications to problems of current economic policy.
Fall: S. Ellison
Spring: D. Donaldson
No textbook information available

14.02 Principles of Macroeconomics
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW2 (10-250) Recitation: F2 (4-370) or F3 (4-370)
______
Provides an overview of macroeconomic issues including the determination of national income, economic growth, unemployment, inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates. Introduces basic macroeconomic models and illustrates key principles through applications to the experience of the US and other economies. Explores a range of current policy debates, such as the economic effects of monetary and fiscal policy, the causes and consequences of the 2008 global financial crisis, and the factors that influence long-term growth in living standards. Lectures are recorded and available for students with scheduling conflicts.
Fall: M. Beraja
Spring: R. Caballero
No textbook information available

14.03 Microeconomic Theory and Public Policy
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 14.003)
Prereq: 14.01 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW9-10.30 (32-141) Recitation: F9 (E51-361) or F10 (E51-149) +final
______
Students master and apply economic theory, causal inference, and contemporary evidence to analyze policy challenges. These include the effect of minimum wages on employment, the value of healthcare, the power and limitations of free markets, the benefits and costs of international trade, the causes and remedies of externalities, the consequences of adverse selection in insurance markets, the impacts of labor market discrimination, and the application of machine learning to supplement to decision-making. Class attendance and participation are mandatory. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Fall: D. Autor
Spring: B. Setzler
No textbook information available

14.04 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and 14.01
Units: 4-0-8
______
Analysis of consumer and producer decisions including analysis of competitive and monopolistic markets. Price-based partial and general equilibrium analysis. Introduction to game theory as a foundation for the strategic analysis of economic situations. Imperfect competition, dynamic games among firms. Failures of general equilibrium theory and their resolutions: externalities, public goods, incomplete information settings, signaling, screening, insurance, alternative market mechanisms, auctions, design of markets.
S. Morris

14.05 Intermediate Macroeconomics
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: 14.01 and (14.02 or permission of instructor)
Units: 4-0-8
______
Uses the tools of macroeconomics to investigate various macroeconomic issues in depth. Topics range from economic growth and inequality in the long run to economic stability and financial crises in the short run. Surveys many economic models used today. Requires a substantial research paper on the economics of long-run economic growth.
C. Wolf

14.06 Advanced Macroeconomics
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 14.01 and 14.02
Units: 4-0-8
______
Blends a thorough study of the theoretical foundations of modern macroeconomics with a review of useful mathematical tools, such as dynamic programming, optimal control, and dynamic systems. Develops comfort with formal macroeconomic reasoning and deepens understanding of key macroeconomic phenomena, such as business cycles. Goes on to study more specific topics, such as unemployment, financial crises, and the role of fiscal and monetary policy. Special attention to reviewing relevant facts and disentangling them from their popular interpretations. Uses insights and tools from game theory. Includes applications to recent and historical events.
Staff

14.08 Technical Topics in Economics
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 14.01
Units: 4-0-8
TBA.
______
Considers technical issues of current research interest in economics.
Fall: G. King
Spring: G. King
No required or recommended textbooks

14.09 Reading Seminar in Economics
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 14.04 and 14.06
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Reading and discussion of particular topics in economics. Open to undergraduate students by arrangement with individual faculty members. Consult Department Headquarters.
Fall: D. Donaldson
IAP: D. Donaldson
Spring: D. Donaldson
No textbook information available

14.10 Reading Seminar in Economics
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 14.04 and 14.06
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Reading and discussion of particular topics in economics. Open to undergraduate students by arrangement with individual faculty members. Consult Department Headquarters.
Fall: D. Donaldson
IAP: D. Donaldson
Spring: D. Donaldson
No textbook information available

14.11 Topics in Economics
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 14.01
Units: 4-0-8
______
Considers issues of current research interest in economics.
Staff

14.12 Economic Applications of Game Theory
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: 14.01 and (6.041B, 14.04, 14.30, 18.05, or permission of instructor)
Units: 4-0-8
______
Analysis of strategic behavior in multi-person economic settings. Introduction to solution concepts, such as rationalizability, backwards induction, Nash equilibrium, subgame-perfect equilibrium, and sequential equilibrium. Strong emphasis on dynamic games, such as repeated games. Introduction to Bayesian games, focusing on Bayesian Nash Equilibrium, Perfect Bayesian Equilibrium, and signaling games. Applications drawn from microeconomics: imperfect competition, implicit cartels, bargaining, and auctions.
I. Ball

14.121 Microeconomic Theory I
______

Graduate (Fall); first half of term
Prereq: 14.04 and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
______
Covers consumer and producer theory, markets and competition, general equilibrium and the welfare theorems; featuring applications, uncertainty, identification and restrictions models place on data. Enrollment limited; preference to PhD students.
P. Pathak

14.122 Microeconomic Theory II
______

Graduate (Fall); second half of term
Prereq: 14.121 and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
______
Introduction to game theory. Topics include normal form and extensive form games, and games with incomplete information. Enrollment limited.
G. Ellison

14.123 Microeconomic Theory III
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: 14.121, 14.122, and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR1-2.30 (E51-151) Recitation: F1-2.30 (E51-151)
______
Models of individual decision-making under certainty and uncertainty. Additional topics in game theory. Enrollment limited.
D. Fudenberg
No textbook information available

14.124 Microeconomic Theory IV
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 14.123 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR1-2.30 (E51-151) Recitation: F1-2.30 (E51-151)
______
Introduction to statistical decision theory, incentive contracting (moral hazard and adverse selection), mechanism design and incomplete contracting. Enrollment limited.
A. Wolitzky
No textbook information available

14.125 Market Design
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 14.124
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW9-10.30 (E52-432) Recitation: F3 (E52-164)
______
Theory and practice of market design, building on ideas from microeconomics, game theory and mechanism design. Prominent case studies include auctions, labor markets, school choice, prediction markets, financial markets, and organ exchange clearinghouses.
N. Agarwal, P. Pathak
No required or recommended textbooks

14.126 Game Theory
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 14.122
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (E51-372) Recitation: F12 (E51-372)
______
Investigates equilibrium and non-equilibrium solution concepts and their foundations as the result of learning or evolution. Studies the equilibria of supermodular games, global games, repeated games, signaling games, and models of bargaining, cheap talk, and reputation.
A. Wolitzky, M. Yildiz
No textbook information available

14.127 Advanced Game Theory
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
For students who plan to do game theory research. Covers the following topics: epistemic foundations of game theory, higher order beliefs, the role and status of common prior assumptions, social networks and social learning, repeated and stochastic games, non-equilibrium learning, stochastic stability and evolutionary dynamics, game theory experiments, and behavioral game theory.
D. Fudenberg, M. Yildiz

14.129 Advanced Contract Theory
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: 14.121, 14.281, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR10.30-12 (E52-532) Recitation: F2.30-4 (E52-532)
______
Presents the contract theory, mechanism design, and general equilibrium theory necessary for an understanding of  a variety of recent innovations: crypto currencies, digital assets; intermediation through digital big techs; central bank digital currency; and decentralized finance (DeFi) versus centralized exchange and contract platforms. Three broad themes: 1) Take stock of new technologies' characteristic features (distributed ledgers and blockchain, e-transfers, smart contacts, and encryption); 2) Translate these features into formal language;  3) Inform normative questions: Should we delegate programmable contacts to the private sector and the role of public authorities. 
R. Townsend
No required or recommended textbooks

14.13 Psychology and Economics
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 14.131)
Prereq: 14.01
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW10.30-12 (34-101) Recitation: F11 (4-370) or F12 (4-370) or F4 (4-370) +final
______
Introduces the theoretical and empirical literature of behavioral economics. Examines important and systematic departures from the standard models in economics by incorporating insights from psychology and other social sciences. Covers theory and evidence on time, risk, and social preferences; beliefs and learning; emotions; limited attention; and frames, defaults, and nudges. Studies applications to many different areas, such as credit card debt, procrastination, retirement savings, addiction, portfolio choice, poverty, labor supply, happiness, and government policy. Students participate in surveys and experiments in class, review evidence from lab experiments, examine how the results can be integrated into models, and test models using field and lab data. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
F. Schilbach
No textbook information available

14.130 Reading Economic Theory
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 14.121 and 14.451
Units: 2-0-10
______
Class will read and discuss current research in economic theory with a focus on game theory, decision theory, and behavioral economics. Students will be expected to make one presentation and to read and post comments on every paper by the day before the paper is presented. Permission of the instructor required, and auditors are not allowed.
D. Fudenberg

14.131 Psychology and Economics
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 14.13)
Prereq: 14.01
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW10.30-12 (34-101) Recitation: F11 (4-370) or F12 (4-370) or F4 (4-370) +final
______
Introduces the theoretical and empirical literature of behavioral economics. Examines important and systematic departures from the standard models in economics by incorporating insights from psychology and other social sciences. Covers theory and evidence on time, risk, and social preferences; beliefs and learning; emotions; limited attention; and frames, defaults, and nudges. Studies applications to many different areas, such as credit card debt, procrastination, retirement savings, addiction, portfolio choice, poverty, labor supply, happiness, and government policy. Students participate in surveys and experiments in class, review evidence from lab experiments, examine how the results can be integrated into models, and test models using field and lab data. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
F. Schilbach
No textbook information available

14.137[J] Psychology and Economics
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 9.822[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: W EVE (4-7 PM) (E52-164)
______
Examines "psychology appreciation" for economics students. Aims to enhance knowledge and intuition about psychological processes in areas relevant to economics. Increases understanding of psychology as an experimental discipline, with its own distinct rules and style of argument. Topics include self-knowledge, cognitive dissonance, self-deception, emotions, social norms, self-control, learning, mental accounting, memory, individual and group behavior, and some personality and psycho-analytic models. Within each of these topics, we showcase effective and central experiments and discuss their role in the development of psychological theory. Term paper required.
D. Prelec
No textbook information available

14.147 Topics in Game Theory
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 14.126
Units: 4-0-8
______
Advanced subject on topics of current research interest.
D. Fudenberg

14.15[J] Networks
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 6.3260[J])
(Subject meets with 14.150)
Prereq: 6.3700 or 14.30
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (E52-164) Recitation: F3 (E25-111) +final
______
Highlights common principles that permeate the functioning of diverse technological, economic and social networks. Utilizes three sets of tools for analyzing networks -- random graph models, optimization, and game theory -- to study informational and learning cascades; economic and financial networks; social influence networks; formation of social groups; communication networks and the Internet; consensus and gossiping; spread and control of epidemics; control and use of energy networks; and biological networks. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Wolitzky
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

14.150 Networks
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 6.3260[J], 14.15[J])
Prereq: 6.3700 or 14.300
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (E52-164) Recitation: F3 (E25-111) +final
______
Highlights common principles that permeate the functioning of diverse technological, economic and social networks. Utilizes three sets of tools for analyzing networks -- random graph models, optimization, and game theory -- to study informational and learning cascades; economic and financial networks; social influence networks; formation of social groups; communication networks and the Internet; consensus and gossiping; spread and control of epidemics; control and use of energy networks; and biological networks. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Wolitzky
No textbook information available

14.16 Strategy and Information
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 14.161)
Prereq: 14.01 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (E51-376) Recitation: F12 (E52-164) +final
______
Covers modern applications of game theory where incomplete information plays an important role. Applications include bargaining, auctions, global games, market design, information design, and network economics. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
I. Ball, M. Yildiz
No textbook information available

14.160 Behavioral Economics
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 14.122
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (E52-432) Recitation: F12 (E52-432)
______
Covers recent theory and empirical evidence in behavioral economics. Topics include deviations from the neoclassical model in terms of (i) preferences (present bias, reference dependence, social preferences), (ii) beliefs (overconfidence, projection bias), and (iii) decision-making (cognition, attention, framing, persuasion), as well as (iv) market reactions to such deviations. Applications will cover a large range of fields, including labor and public economics, industrial organization, health economics, finance, and development economics.
A. Banerjee,  F. Schilbach
No textbook information available

14.161 Strategy and Information
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 14.16)
Prereq: 14.01 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (E51-376) Recitation: F12 (E52-164) +final
______
Covers modern applications of game theory where incomplete information plays an important role. Applications include bargaining, auctions, global games, market design, information design, and network economics. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
I. Ball, M. Yildiz
No textbook information available

14.163 Algorithms and Behavioral Science
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: (14.122 and 14.381) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR10.30-12 (E51-149) Recitation: R2.30-4 (E51-085)
______
Examines algorithms and their interaction with human cognition.  Provides an overview of supervised learning as it relates to econometrics and economic applications. Discusses using algorithms to better understand people, using algorithms to improve human judgment, and using understanding of humans to better design algorithms.  Prepares economics PhD students to conduct research in the field.
S. Mullainathan, A. Rambachan
No textbook information available

14.18 Mathematical Economic Modeling
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: 14.04, 14.12, 14.15, or 14.19
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (E51-057) Recitation: TBA
______
Guides students through the process of developing and analyzing formal economic models and effectively communicating their results. Topics include decision theory, game theory, voting, and matching. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Prior coursework in microeconomic theory and/or proof-based mathematics required. Limited to 18 students.
M. Yildiz
No textbook information available

14.19 Market Design
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: 14.01
Units: 4-0-8
______
Covers the design and operation of organized markets, building on ideas from microeconomic and game theory. Topics may include mechanism design, auctions, matching markets, and other resource allocation problems.
P. Pathak

14.191 Independent Research Paper
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-12-0
TBA.
______
Under guidance from a faculty member approved by Graduate Registration Officer, student writes a substantial, probably publishable research paper. Must be completed by the end of a student's second year to satisfy the departmental minor requirement.
Fall: I. Andrews
IAP: I. Andrews
Spring: I. Andrews
No textbook information available

14.192 Advanced Research and Communication
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 14.124, 14.382, and 14.454
Units: 2-4-6 [P/D/F]
Lecture: TR9-10.30 (E52-432)
______
Guides second-year Economics PhD students through the process of conducting and communicating economic research. Students choose topics for research projects, develop research strategies, carry out analyses, and write and present research papers. Limited to second year Economics PhD students.
Fall: A. Banerjee, A. Finkelstein
IAP: A. Banerjee, A. Finkelstein
Spring: A. Banerjee, A. Finkelstein
No textbook information available

14.193 Advanced Seminar in Economics
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit; partial term
Prereq: 14.121 and 14.451
Units arranged
14.193: Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR2.30-4 (E52-532) Recitation: F12 (E52-532)
______
Reading and discussion of current topics in economics. Open to advanced graduate students by arrangement with individual members of the staff.
Fall: Consult Department headquarters
Spring: R. Townsend
Summer: J. Tirole
14.193: No textbook information available

14.195 Reading Seminar in Economics
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 14.121
Units arranged [P/D/F]
14.195: TBA.
______
Reading and discussion of current topics in economics. Open to advanced graduate students by arrangement with individual members of the staff.
Fall: I. Andrews
Spring: I. Andrews
14.195: No textbook information available

14.197 Independent Research
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Under guidance from a faculty member approved by Graduate Registration Officer, student conducts independent research.
Fall: I. Andrews
IAP: I. Andrews
Spring: I. Andrews
No textbook information available

14.198, 14.199 Teaching Introductory Economics
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-2 [P/D/F]
14.198: TBA.
14.199: TBA.
______
Required of teaching assistants in introductory economics (14.01 and 14.02), under guidance from the faculty member in charge of the subject.
Fall: Consult Department Headquarters
Spring: Consult Department Headquarters
14.198: No textbook information available
14.199: No textbook information available

14.281 Contract Economics
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 14.124 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Covers theoretical research on contracts in static as well as dynamic settings. Topics include agency theory, mechanism design, incomplete contracting, information design and costly information acquisition. 
I. Ball, S. Morris

Industrial Organization

14.20 Industrial Organization: Competitive Strategy and Public Policy
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 14.200)
Prereq: 14.01
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW10.30-12 (E51-151) Recitation: F10 (E51-085)
______
Analyzes the current debate over the rise of monopolies, the strategic behavior and performance of firms in imperfectly competitive markets, and the role of competition policy. Topics include monopoly power; pricing, product choice, and innovation decisions by firms in oligopoly markets; static and dynamic measurement of market performance; and incentives in organizations. Requires regular participation in class discussion and teamwork in a competitive strategy game. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
N. Rose
No required or recommended textbooks

14.200 Industrial Organization: Competitive Strategy and Public Policy
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 14.20)
Prereq: 14.01
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW10.30-12 (E51-151) Recitation: F10 (E51-085)
______
Analyzes the current debate over the rise of monopolies, the strategic behavior and performance of firms in imperfectly competitive markets, and the role of competition policy. Topics include monopoly power; pricing, product choice, and innovation decisions by firms in oligopoly markets; static and dynamic measurement of market performance; and incentives in organizations. Requires regular participation in class discussion and teamwork in a competitive strategy game. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
N. Rose
No required or recommended textbooks

14.27 Economics of Digitization
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 14.270)
Prereq: 14.01 and (6.3700 or 14.30)
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (E51-361) Recitation: F10 (E51-372)
______
Uses theoretical economic models and empirical evidence to help understand the past and likely future impacts that digitization has had on legacy markets and institutions. These models help frame class discussions on e-commerce, search, online advertising, traditional and social media, privacy, platform design, and distance learning, among other topics. Students complete a project, and those taking the graduate version have additional assignments.
S. Ellison
No textbook information available

14.270 Economics of Digitization
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 14.27)
Prereq: 14.01 and (6.3700 or 14.30)
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (E51-361) Recitation: F10 (E51-372)
______
Uses theoretical economic models and empirical evidence to help understand the past and likely future impacts that digitization has had on legacy markets and institutions. These models help frame class discussions on e-commerce, search, online advertising, traditional and social media, privacy, platform design, and distance learning, among other topics. Students  complete a project, and those taking the graduate version have additional assignments.
S. Ellison
No textbook information available

14.271 Industrial Organization I
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 14.122 and 14.381
Units: 5-0-7
______
Covers theoretical and empirical work dealing with the structure, behavior, and performance of firms and markets and core issues in antitrust. Topics include: the organization of the firm, monopoly, price discrimination, oligopoly, and auctions. Theoretical and empirical work are integrated in each area.
G. Ellison

14.272 Industrial Organization II
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 14.271
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (E51-385) Recitation: F12 (E51-385)
______
Continuation of 14.271. Focuses on government interventions in monopoly and oligopoly markets, and addresses both competition and regulatory policy. Topics include horizontal merger policy and demand estimation, vertical integration and vertical restraints, and the theory and practice of economic regulation. Applications include the political economy of regulation; the performance of economic regulation; deregulation in sectors including electric power, transportation, and financial services; and pharmaceutical and environmental regulation in imperfectly competitive product markets.
N. Rose, M. Whinston
No required or recommended textbooks

14.273 Advanced Topics in Industrial Organization
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 14.271
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (E51-151) Recitation: F EVE (4-6 PM) (E51-151)
______
Empirical analysis of theoretically derived models of market behavior. Varied topics include demand estimation, differentiated products, production functions, analysis of market power, entry and exit, vertical relationships, auctions, matching markets, network externalities, dynamic oligopoly, moral hazard and adverse selection. Discussion will focus on methodological issues, including identification, estimation, counter-factual analysis and simulation techniques.
N. Agarwal, B. Vatter
No required or recommended textbooks

Organizational Economics

14.26[J] Organizational Economics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 15.039[J])
(Subject meets with 14.260)
Prereq: 14.01
Units: 4-0-8
______
Provides a rigorous, but not overly technical introduction to the economic theory of organization together with a varying set of applications. Addresses incentives, control, relationships, decision processes, and organizational culture and performance. Introduces selected fundamentals of game theory. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. Gibbons

14.260 Organizational Economics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 14.26[J], 15.039[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Provides a rigorous, but not overly technical introduction to the economic theory of organization together with a varying set of applications. Addresses incentives, control, relationships, decision processes, and organizational culture and performance. Introduces selected fundamentals of game theory. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. Gibbons

14.282 Introduction to Organizational Economics
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 14.124
Units: 5-0-7
______
Begins with survey of contract theory for organizational economists, then introduces the main areas of the field, including the boundary of the firm; decision-making, employment, structures and processes in organizations; and organizations other than firms.
C. Angelucci, R. Gibbons, N. Kala

14.283 Advanced Topics in Organizational Economics I
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: 14.282
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR1-2.30 (E62-550) Recitation: F10 (E51-361)
______
Builds on the work done in 14.282 to develop more in-depth analysis of topics in the field.
R. Gibbons, C. Angelucci
No textbook information available

14.284 Advanced Topics in Organizational Economics II
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 14.282
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR1-2.30 (E62-550) Recitation: F10 (E51-361)
______
Builds on the work done in 14.282 to develop more in-depth analysis of topics in the field.
C. Angelucci, R. Gibbons
No textbook information available

Statistics and Econometrics

14.30 Introduction to Statistical Methods in Economics
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Subject meets with 14.300)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 4-0-8
______
Self-contained introduction to probability and statistics with applications in economics and the social sciences.  Covers elements of probability theory, statistical estimation and inference, regression analysis, causal inference, and program evaluation. Couples methods with applications and with assignments involving data analysis. Uses basic calculus and matrix algebra.  Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. May not count toward HASS requirement.
A. Abadie

14.300 Introduction to Statistical Methods in Economics
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 14.30)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 4-0-8
______
Self-contained introduction to probability and statistics with applications in economics and the social sciences. Covers elements of probability theory, statistical estimation and inference, regression analysis, causal inference, and program evaluation. Couples methods with applications and with assignments involving data analysis. Uses basic calculus and matrix algebra. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. Abadie

14.310 Data Analysis for Social Scientists
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduces methods for harnessing data to answer questions of cultural, social, economic, and policy interest. Presents essential notions of probability and statistics. Covers techniques in modern data analysis: regression and econometrics, prediction, design of experiment, randomized control trials (and A/B testing), machine learning, data visualization, analysis of network data, and geographic information systems. Projects include analysis of data with a written description and interpretation of results; may involve gathering of original data or use of existing data sets. Applications drawn from real world examples and frontier research. Instruction in use of the statistical package R. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

14.32 Econometric Data Science
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Institute Lab
(Subject meets with 14.320)
Prereq: 14.30 or 18.650
Units: 4-4-4
Lecture: TR10.30-12 (E51-395) Lab: TBA Recitation: F12 (E52-324) +final
______
Introduces regression and other tools for causal inference and descriptive analysis in empirical economics. Topics include analysis of randomized experiments, instrumental variables methods and regression discontinuity designs, differences-in-differences estimation, and regression with time series data. Develops the skills needed to conduct — and critique — empirical studies in economics and related fields. Empirical applications are drawn from published examples and frontier research. Familiarity with statistical programming languages is helpful. Students taking graduate version complete an empirical project leading to a short paper. No listeners. Limited to 70 total for versions meeting together.
Fall: A. Mikusheva
Spring: J. Angrist
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

14.320 Econometric Data Science
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with 14.32)
Prereq: 14.300 or 18.650
Units: 4-4-4
Lecture: TR10.30-12 (E51-395) Lab: TBA Recitation: R EVE (5.30-7 PM) (E52-432) +final
______
Introduces regression and other tools for causal inference and descriptive analysis in empirical economics. Topics include analysis of randomized experiments, instrumental variables methods and regression discontinuity designs, differences-in-differences estimation, and regress with time series data. Develops the skills needed to conduct — and critique — empirical studies in economics and related fields. Empirical applications are drawn from published examples and frontier research. Familiarity with statistical programming languages is helpful. Students taking graduate version complete an empirical project leading to a short paper. No listeners. Limited to 70 total for versions meeting together.
Fall: A. Mikusheva
Spring: J. Angrist
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

14.33 Research and Communication in Economics: Topics, Methods, and Implementation
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: 14.32 and (14.01 or 14.02)
Units: 3-4-5
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (E51-372) Lab: TBA
______
Exposes students to the process of conducting independent research in empirical economics and effectively communicating the results of the research. Emphasizes econometric analysis of an assigned economic question and culminates in each student choosing an original topic, performing appropriate analysis, and delivering oral and written project reports. Limited to 20 per section.
Fall: T. Salz
Spring: N. Roussille
No textbook information available

14.35 Why Markets Fail
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: 14.04, 14.12, 14.15, or 14.19
Units: 4-0-8
______
Guides students through the process of developing and communicating economic and data analysis. Discusses topics in which markets fail to provide efficient outcomes or economic opportunity. Topics include health insurance, intergenerational mobility, discrimination, climate change, and more. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Key course activities include the writing of a term paper conducting original economic analysis and an in-class slide presentation of the work. Limited to 18.
N. Hendren

14.36 Advanced Econometrics
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 14.387)
Prereq: 14.32 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Advanced treatment of the core empirical strategies used to answer causal questions in applied microeconometric research. Covers extensions and innovations relating to econometric applications of regression, machine learning, instrumental variables, differences-in-differences and event-study models, regression discontinuity designs, synthetic controls, and statistical inference.  Students taking graduate version complete an additional assignment.  
J. Angrist

14.38 Inference on Causal and Structural Parameters Using ML and AI
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 14.388)
Prereq: 14.32
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (E51-145) Recitation: F2.30-4 (E51-145)
______
Provides an applied treatment of modern causal inference with high-dimensional data, focusing on empirical economic problems encountered in academic research and the tech industry. Formulates problems in the languages of structural equation modeling and potential outcomes. Presents state-of-the-art approaches for inference on causal and structural parameters, including de-biased machine learning, synthetic control methods, and reinforcement learning. Introduces tools from machine learning and deep learning developed for prediction purposes, and discusses how to adapt them to learn causal parameters. Emphasizes the applied and practical perspectives. Requires knowledge of mathematical statistics and regression analysis and programming experience in R or Python.
V. Chernozhukov
No textbook information available

14.380 Statistical Method in Economics
______

Graduate (Fall); first half of term
Prereq: 14.32 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
______
Introduction to probability and statistics as background for advanced econometrics. Covers elements of probability theory, sampling theory, asymptotic approximations, hypothesis testing, and maximum-likelihood methods. Illustrations from economics and application of these concepts to economic problems. Limited to 40 PhD students.
A. Rambachan

14.381 Estimation and Inference for Linear Causal and Structural Models
______

Graduate (Fall); second half of term
Prereq: 14.380 and 18.06
Units: 3-0-3
______
Explains basic econometric ideas and methods, illustrating with empirical applications. Causal inference is emphasized and examples of economic structural models are given. Topics include randomized trials, regression, including discontinuity designs and diffs-in-diffs, and instrumental variables, including local average treatment effects. Basic asymptotic theory for regression is covered and robust standard errors and statistical inference methods are given. Restricted to PhD students from Courses 14 and 15. Instructor approval required for all others.
W. Newey

14.382 Econometrics
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 14.381 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: MW10.30-12 (E51-395) Recitation: F10.30-12 (E51-145)
______
Covers key models as well as identification and estimation methods used in modern econometrics. Presents modern ways to set up problems and do better estimation and inference than the current empirical practice. Introduces generalized method of moments and the method of M-estimators in addition to more modern versions of these methods dealing with important issues, such as weak identification. Also discusses the bootstrap. Students gain practical experience by applying the methods to real data sets. Enrollment limited.
V. Chernozhukov
No textbook information available

14.383 High-Dimensional Econometrics
(New)
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 14.382 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW10.30-12 (E51-395) Recitation: F10.30-12 (E51-145)
______
Continuation of topics in 14.382, with specific focus on large dimensional models. Students gain practical experience by applying the methods to real data sets. Enrollment limited.
V. Chernozhukov
No textbook information available

14.384 Time Series Analysis
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 14.382 or permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-7
______
Studies theory and application of time series methods in econometrics, including spectral analysis, estimation with stationary and non-stationary processes, VARs, factor models, unit roots, cointegration, and Bayesian methods. Enrollment limited.
A. Mikusheva

14.385 Nonlinear Econometric Analysis
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 14.382 or permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-7
______
Develops a full understanding of and ability to apply micro-econometric models and methods. Topics include extremum estimators, including minimum distance and simulated moments, identification, partial identification, sensitivity analysis, many weak instruments, nonlinear panel data, de-biased machine learning, discrete choice models, nonparametric estimation, quantile regression, and treatment effects. Methods are illustrated with economic applications. Enrollment limited.
A. Abadie, W. Newey

14.386 New Econometric Methods
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 14.382
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: T EVE (4-6 PM) (E51-372)
______
Exposes students to the frontier of econometric research. Includes fundamental topics such as empirical processes, semiparametric estimation, nonparametric instrumental variables, inference under partial identification, large-scale inference, empirical Bayes, and machine learning methods. Other topics vary from year to year, but can include empirical likelihood, weak identification, and networks.
A. Abadie, W. Newey
No textbook information available

14.387 Applied Econometrics
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 14.36)
Prereq: 14.381 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Advanced treatment of the core empirical strategies used to answer causal questions in applied microeconometric research. Covers extensions and innovations relating to econometric applications of regression, machine learning, instrumental variables, differences-in-differences and event-study models, regression discontinuity designs, synthetic controls, and statistical inference.  Students taking the graduate version complete an additional assignment.  
J. Angrist

14.388 Inference on Causal and Structural Parameters Using ML and AI
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 14.38)
Prereq: 14.381
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (E51-145) Recitation: F2.30-4 (E51-145)
______
Provides an applied treatment of modern causal inference with high-dimensional data, focusing on empirical economic problems encountered in academic research and the tech industry. Formulates problems in the languages of structural equation modeling and potential outcomes. Presents state-of-the-art approaches for inference on causal and structural parameters, including de-biased machine learning, synthetic control methods, and reinforcement learning. Introduces tools from machine learning and deep learning developed for prediction purposes, and discusses how to adapt them to learn causal parameters. Emphasizes the applied and practical perspectives. Requires knowledge of mathematical statistics and regression analysis and programming experience in R or Python.
V. Chernozhukov
No textbook information available

14.39 Large-Scale Decision-Making and Inference
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 14.390)
Prereq: 14.32
Units: 4-0-8
______
Covers the use of data to guide decision-making, with a focus on data-rich and high-dimensional environments as are now commonly encountered in both academic and industry applications. Begins with an introduction to statistical decision theory, including Bayesian perspectives. Covers empirical Bayes methods, including related concepts such as false discovery rates, illustrated with economic applications. Requires knowledge of mathematical statistics and regression analysis, as well as programming experience in R or Python. Students taking the graduate version submit additional assignments.
I. Andrews

14.390 Large-Scale Decision-Making and Inference
(New)
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 14.39)
Prereq: 14.320
Units: 4-0-8
______
Covers the use of data to guide decision-making, with a focus on data-rich and high-dimensional environments as are now commonly encountered in both academic and industry applications. Begins with an introduction to statistical decision theory, including Bayesian perspectives. Covers empirical Bayes methods, including related concepts such as false discovery rates, illustrated with economic applications. Requires knowledge of mathematical statistics and regression analysis, as well as programming experience in R or Python. Students taking the graduate version submit additional assignments.
I. Andrews

14.391 Workshop in Economic Research
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 14.124 and 14.454
Units: 2-0-10 [P/D/F]
______
Develops research ability of students through intensive discussion of dissertation research as it proceeds, individual or group research projects, and critical appraisal of current reported research. Workshops divided into various fields, depending on interest and size.
I. Andrews

14.392 Workshop in Economic Research
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 14.124 and 14.454
Units: 2-0-10 [P/D/F]
Recitation: M4-5.30 (E51-395) or W2.30-4 (E51-395) or T2.30-4 (E62-650) or R4-5.30 (E51-372) or M EVE (4-6 PM) (E52-164, E52-324) or T EVE (4-6 PM) (E52-432) or R EVE (4-6 PM) (E51-151) or T4-5.30 (E52-164)
______
Develops research ability of students through intensive discussion of dissertation research as it proceeds, individual or group research projects, and critical appraisal of current reported research. Workshops divided into various fields, depending on interest and size.
I. Andrews
No textbook information available

14.399 Seminar in Data Economics and Development Policy
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-10 [P/D/F]
Lecture: T9 (E52-324)
______
Group study of current topics in development policy and research. Includes student presentations and invited speakers. Restricted to DEDP MASc students.
S. Ellison
No textbook information available

For additional related subjects in Statistics, see:

Civil and Environmental Engineering: 1.151, 1.155, 1.202J, 1.203J, 1.205J

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science: 6.041, 6.231, 6.245, 6.262, 6.431, 6.432, and 6.435

Management: 15.034, 15.061, 15.065, 15.070, 15.075, 15.076, 15.098, and 15.306

Mathematics: 18.05, 18.175, 18.177, 18.440, 18.441, 18.443, 18.445, 18.458, and 18.465

See also: 2.061, 2.830, 5.70, 5.72, 7.02, 8.044, 8.08, 10.816, 11.220, 11.221, 16.322, 17.872, 17.874, 22.38, HST.191, and MAS.622J.


left arrow | 14.00-14.399 plus UROP | 14.40-14.999 and UROP and Thesis | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 15: Management
IAP/Spring 2025


Managerial Economics

15.000 Explorations in Management
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Broad introduction to the various aspects of management including analytics, accounting and finance, operations, marketing, entrepreneurship and leadership, organizations, economics, systems dynamics, and negotiation and communication. Introduces the field of management through a variety of experiences as well as discussions led by faculty or industry experts. Also reviews the three undergraduate majors offered by Sloan as well as careers in management. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students. Limited to undergraduates; preference to first years.
J. Orlin

15.002 Leadership Challenges for an Inclusive World
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
Lecture: TBA
______
Units assigned to MBA students upon completion. Restricted to Sloan MBA students.
Fall: Consult: Sloan Educational Services
Spring: Consult: Sloan Educational Services
No textbook information available

15.003 Analytics Tools
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Summer)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Units assigned to Master of Business Analytics students upon completion of the Analytics Tools requirement. Restricted to Master of Business Analytics students.
Fall: M. Li
IAP: M. Li
No textbook information available

15.004 Programming for Finance Professionals
______

Graduate (Summer)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
______
Two-day accelerated course with supplemental recitations designed to develop skills in applying basic methods from the programming language Python (with additional references from R) to financial problems. Topics include programming basics in Python, data manipulation, visualization and reporting and an overview of programming ethics. MFin students will apply and build upon these skills in 15.433 Financial Markets and 15.450/15.457 Analytics and Advanced Analytics of Finance. Students must pass one of two exams offered during the summer term to demonstrate their ability to solve financial problems using R and Python. Restricted to Sloan Master of Finance Program students.
B. Vartak

15.005 Sloan Intensive Period Elective Requirement
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 15.002
Units arranged [P/D/F]
URL: https://sloangroups.mit.edu/mbaprogram/15.005-elective-sip/
TBA.
______
Units assigned to MBA students upon completion of the Sloan Intensive Period (SIP) elective requirement. Restricted to Sloan MBA students.
Consult: Sloan Educational Services
No textbook information available

15.010 Economic Analysis for Business Decisions
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-5
______
Introduces principles of microeconomics as a framework for making more informed managerial decisions. Discusses the supply and demand paradigm with applications to digital marketplaces, innovation, sources of market power, and strategic pricing. Provides an introduction to game theory to study competition and cooperation both within and between firms. Restricted to first-year Sloan MBA students.
M. Whinston

15.011 Economic Analysis for Business Decisions
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 15.0111)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-5
______
Introduces principles of microeconomics as a framework for making more informed managerial decisions. Discusses the supply and demand paradigm with applications to digital marketplaces, innovation, sources of market power, and strategic pricing. Provides an introduction to game theory to study competition and cooperation both within and between firms. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details. Intended for non-Sloan graduate students; not open to Sloan MBA students.
Staff

15.0111 Economic Analysis for Business Decisions
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 15.011)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-5
______
Introduces principles of microeconomics as a framework for making more informed managerial decisions. Discusses the supply and demand paradigm with applications to digital marketplaces, innovation, sources of market power, and strategic pricing. Provides an introduction to game theory to study competition and cooperation both within and between firms. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details. Intended for undergraduate students; not open to Sloan MBA students.
M. Gechter

15.012 Applied Macro- and International Economics
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Explores the macroeconomic environment in which firms operate. Aims to provide a strong foundation in macroeconomic concepts and apply them to understand specific country experiences. Introduces the basic tools of short-run macroeconomic management, primarily monetary and fiscal policy, utilizing historical case studies and modern policy discussions as context. Explores drivers of long-term growth, examining the cases of economic miracles and productivity slowdowns in developed economies, and then delves into the fundamental theory of trade, applying it to the discussions of global trade wars and trade agreements.
A. Makarin, R. Rigobon

15.013 Economics for Strategic Decisions
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 15.010 or 15.011
Units: 3-0-6
______
Applies principles of economics most relevant for corporate strategy to analysis of particular industries. Topics include market structure and its determinants; rational strategic behavior in small numbers situations; strategies for price and nonprice competition; dynamic pricing, output, and advertising decisions; entry and entry deterrence; competition with network externalities; investments under uncertainty; competition among platforms; R&D and patent licensing; and the growth and evolution of industries.
R. Pindyck, A. Bonatti

15.014 Applied Macro- and International Economics II
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-2
Ends Mar 14. Lecture: MW8.30-10 (E62-223)
______
Establishes understanding of the development processes of societies and economies. Studies several dimensions of sustainability (environmental, social, political, institutional, economy, organizational, relational, and personal) and the balance among them. Explores the basics of governmental intervention, focusing on areas such as the judicial system, environment, social security, and health. Builds skills to determine what type of policy is most appropriate. Considers implications of new technologies on the financial sector: internationalization of currencies, mobile payment systems, and cryptocurrencies. Discusses the institutional framework to ensure choices are sustainable across all dimensions and applications.
R. Rigobon, A. Makarin
No textbook information available

15.015 Macroeconomic Policy Reforms
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Focuses on the current policy and economic issues in the US economy. Students propose economic and policy reforms around issues such as labor markets, inflation and central banking, financial regulation, education, health, housing, transportation, social security, democracy, immigration, diversity, and environmental policy. Topics change year to year. In each class, proposals are presented and voted upon by the group.
Staff

15.016[J] Climate and Energy in the Global Economy
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 14.450[J])
Prereq: 14.01, 15.010, 15.011, or 15.024
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 14.45, 15.0161
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (E62-223) +final
______
Provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and policy responses to the global climate and energy crises. Discusses the role of energy in world economies, paying particular attention to low- and middle-income countries, as well as the impacts of climate change on those economies. Considers how access, cost, reliability, and environmental harm drive or hinder economic growth, the political influences on the energy sector, the impacts of climate change on low- and middle-income countries, and the role of energy in mitigating future impacts of climate change. Also discusses global climate solutions, including the role of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process, trade policy, climate finance, business strategies to reduce emissions, and business strategies to help people adapt to a changing climate. Students taking graduate students complete additional assignments.
C. Wolfram
No textbook information available

15.0161[J] Climate and Energy in the Global Economy
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 14.45[J])
Prereq: 14.01 or 15.0111
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 14.450, 15.016
Lecture: MW11.30-1 (E62-223) +final
______
Provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and policy responses to the global climate and energy crises. Discusses the role of energy in world economies, paying particular attention to low- and middle-income countries, as well as the impacts of climate change on those economies. Considers how access, cost, reliability, and environmental harm drive or hinder economic growth, the political influences on the energy sector, the impacts of climate change on low- and middle-income countries, and the role of energy in mitigating future impacts of climate change. Also discusses global climate solutions, including the role of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process, trade policy, climate finance, business strategies to reduce emissions, and business strategies to help people adapt to a changing climate. Students taking graduate students complete additional assignments.
C. Wolfram
No textbook information available

15.018 Current Debates of Macroeconomics and Public Policy
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 14. Lecture: W EVE (4-7 PM) (E51-315)
______
Concentrates on debates about current policy challenges. Students debate and vote on policy actions on current issues in developed and developing nations. Subjects include industrial policy, macroeconomics, poverty, social safety net, labor practices, immigration and labor markets, international economics, human rights, civil rights, democracy, environmental policy, regulation, and crypto assets. Topics change from year to year.
R. Rigobon
No textbook information available

15.020 Economics of Energy, Innovation, and Sustainability
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 14.01 or 15.011
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 14.43, 15.0201
______
Covers energy and environmental market organization and regulation. Explores economic challenges and solutions to transforming energy markets to be more efficient, accessible, affordable, and sustainable. Applies core economic concepts - consumer choice, firm profit maximization, and strategic behavior - to understand when energy and environmental markets work well and when they fail. They also conduct data-driven economic analysis on the trade-offs of real and proposed policy interventions. Topics include renewable generation sources for electricity, energy access in emerging markets, efficiency programs and fuel efficiency standards, transitioning transportation to alternative fuels, measuring damages and adaptation to climate change, and the effect of energy and environmental policy on innovation. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.
Staff

15.0201[J] Economics of Energy, Innovation, and Sustainability
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 14.43[J])
Prereq: 14.01 or 15.0111
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 15.020
______
Covers energy and environmental market organization and regulation. Explores economic challenges and solutions to transforming energy markets to be more efficient, accessible, affordable, and sustainable. Applies core economic concepts - consumer choice, firm profit maximization, and strategic behavior - to understand when energy and environmental markets work well and when they fail. They also conduct data-driven economic analysis on the trade-offs of real and proposed policy interventions. Topics include renewable generation sources for electricity, energy access in emerging markets, efficiency programs and fuel efficiency standards, transitioning transportation to alternative fuels, measuring damages and adaptation to climate change, and the effect of energy and environmental policy on innovation. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.
Staff

15.021[J] Real Estate Economics
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 11.433[J])
Prereq: 14.01, 15.010, or 15.011
Units: 4-0-8
______
Develops an understanding of the fundamental economic factors that shape the market for real property, as well as the influence of capital markets in asset pricing. Analyzes of housing as well as commercial real estate. Covers demographic analysis, regional growth, construction cycles, urban land markets, and location theory as well as recent technology impacts. Exercises and modeling techniques for measuring and predicting property demand, supply, vacancy, rents, and prices.
A. Saiz

15.022[J] Real Estate Markets: Macroeconomics
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
(Same subject as 11.429[J])
Prereq: 11.431 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR2.30-4 (9-354)
______
Applies the latest economic thinking and research to the task of analyzing aggregate real estate market time series, assessing risk, and developing forecasts. Presents the premise that because of capital durability and construction lags, real estate markets exhibit some degree of mean reversion and as such are at least partially predictable. Examines the extent and causes of market volatility across different markets and types of property. Long-term aggregate trends impacting the real estate sector, from demographics to technology, discussed. Limited to 30.
W. Wheaton
No textbook information available

15.024 Applied Economics for Managers
______

Graduate (Summer)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Credit cannot also be received for 15.722
______
Develops facility with concepts, language and tools of micro economics. Primary focus on the analysis of markets, strategic interactions among firms and game theory as applied to firms. Emphasizes integration of theory, data, and judgment in the analysis of a wide range of corporate decisions, both between and within firms. Restricted to Sloan Fellow MBAs.
N. Kala, T. Suri

15.025 Game Theory for Strategic Advantage
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 15.0251)
Prereq: 14.01, 15.010, 15.011, 15.024, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Credit cannot also be received for 15.741
Lecture: TR8.30-10 (E62-223) or TR10-11.30 (E62-223)
______
Develops and applies principles of game theory relevant to managers' strategic decisions. Topics include how to reason about strategies and opponents; strategic commitment and negotiations; reputation and seemingly irrational actions; bidding in auctions; and the design of auctions, contests and markets. Applications to a variety of business decisions that arise in different industries, both within and outside the firm. Meets with 15.0251 when offered concurrently. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.
A. Bonatti
No textbook information available

15.0251 Game Theory for Strategic Advantage
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 15.025)
Prereq: 14.01, 15.0111, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Credit cannot also be received for 15.741
Lecture: TR8.30-10 (E62-223) or TR10-11.30 (E62-223)
______
Develops and applies principles of game theory relevant to managers' strategic decisions. Topics include how to reason about strategies and opponents; strategic commitment and negotiations; reputation and seemingly irrational actions; bidding in auctions; and the design of auctions, contests and markets. Applications to a variety of business decisions that arise in different industries, both within and outside the firm. Meets with 15.025 when offered concurrently. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.
A. Bonatti
No textbook information available

15.026[J] Global Climate Change: Economics, Science, and Policy
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 12.348[J])
Prereq: (Calculus II (GIR), 5.60, and 14.01) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Introduces scientific, economic, and ecological issues underlying the threat of global climate change, and the institutions engaged in negotiating an international response. Develops an integrated approach to analysis of climate change processes, and assessment of proposed policy measures, drawing on research and model development within the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. Graduate students are expected to explore the topic in greater depth through reading and individual research..
Staff

15.027 Opportunities in Developing Economies
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
______
Investigates the role of the private sector in developing economies, highlighting how solving market failures can improve overall welfare. Covers constraints faced by firms in developing economies: contract enforcement, corruption, political risk, human rights, IP and infrastructure. Uses case studies to discuss successful firms and innovative solutions to these constraints, including public-private partnerships, the role of technology, the role of finance and impact investing.
Staff

15.029[J] United States Energy Policy: Lessons Learned for the Future
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall); second half of term
(Same subject as 5.81[J])
(Subject meets with 5.811[J], 15.0291[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Compares the US policy responses, from the Nixon administration to the current administration, on issues ranging from oil import dependence to nuclear nonproliferation. Examines what lessons were learned from these issues and how they have shaped the country's current climate change policy. Prepares students to be informed and effective participants in policy deliberations that require difficult decisions and trade-offs. Addresses both domestic and international policy aspects. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Deutch

15.0291[J] United States Energy Policy: Lessons Learned for the Future
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall); second half of term
(Same subject as 5.811[J])
(Subject meets with 5.81[J], 15.029[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Compares the US policy responses, from the Nixon administration to the current administration, on issues ranging from oil import dependence to nuclear nonproliferation. Examines what lessons were learned from these issues and how they have shaped the country's current climate change policy. Prepares students to be informed and effective participants in policy deliberations that require difficult decisions and trade-offs. Addresses both domestic and international policy aspects. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Deutch

15.032[J] Engineering, Economics and Regulation of the Electric Power Sector
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as IDS.505[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Presents an in-depth interdisciplinary look at the electric power sector, with regulation providing the link among engineering, economic, legal and environmental viewpoints. Topics include electricity markets, incentive regulation of networks, service reliability, renewable energy sources, network issues, retail competition, tariff design, distributed generation, rural electrification, multinational electricity markets, environmental impacts, and the future of utilities and strategic sustainability issues under traditional and competitive regulatory frameworks. Covers engineering, economic and legal basis to evaluate worldwide regulatory instruments. Regulatory approaches apply in other industrial sectors such as fuel gases, telecoms, transportation, water supply. Provides the basis for research or professional activities in energy sectors in industry, government, and consulting. Permission of instructor required for undergraduates wishing to take the class.
Staff.

15.034 Econometrics for Managers: Correlation & Causality in a Big Data World
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 15.0341)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-5
______
Introduces econometrics as a framework to go beyond correlations and get to causality, which is crucial for investment decisions in finance, marketing, human resources, public policy, and general business strategy. Through labs and projects, students get experience in many relevant applications.  Students gain a deeper understanding of modeling using multivariate regression, instrumental-variable regression, and machine learning tools including regression trees, random forest, LASSO, and neural networks. No prior knowledge is necessary. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.
J. Doyle, R. Rigobon

15.0341 Econometrics for Managers: Correlation and Causality in a Big Data World
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 15.034)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-5
______
Introduces econometrics as a framework to go beyond correlations and get to causality, which is crucial for investment decisions in finance, marketing, human resources, public policy, and general business strategy. Through labs and projects, students get experience in many relevant applications.  Students gain a deeper understanding of modeling using multivariate regression, instrumental-variable regression, and machine learning tools including regression trees, random forest, LASSO, and neural networks. No prior knowledge is necessary. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.
J. Doyle, R. Rigobon

15.035 Energy Market Dynamics in a Decarbonizing Economy
(New)
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 14.01 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Credit cannot also be received for 14.44, 14.444, 15.037, 15.038
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR2.30-4 (E51-335) Recitation: F11 (E51-149)
______
Explores how energy markets function, what changes as the world decarbonizes, and the role of new technologies in this change. Examines how market outcomes are influenced by policies, with a focus on environmental policies. Uses economic tools to analyze efficiency and public policy challenges in interconnected energy and environmental markets. Topics include how electricity markets are shaped by large-scale renewable penetration, how decarbonization policies affect different regions and socio-economic groups, measuring the social costs of climate change, and the role of critical minerals in a decarbonizing world. Students gain experience in linking theory to real-world policy problems, particularly through a team-based electricity market simulation that mirrors decision-making by market participants. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details. Limited to 65.
C. Knittel
No textbook information available

15.0351 Energy Market Dynamics in a Decarbonizing Economy
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 14.01 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR1-2.30 (E51-335) Recitation: F12 (E51-149)
______
Explores how energy markets function, what changes as the world decarbonizes, and the role of new technologies in this change. Examines how market outcomes are influenced by policies, with a focus on environmental policies. Uses economic tools to analyze efficiency and public policy challenges in interconnected energy and environmental markets. Topics include how electricity markets are shaped by large-scale renewable penetration, how decarbonization policies affect different regions and socio-economic groups, measuring the social costs of climate change, and the role of critical minerals in a decarbonizing world. Students gain experience in linking theory to real-world policy problems, particularly through a team-based electricity market simulation that mirrors decision-making by market participants. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details. Limited to 65.
C. Knittel
No textbook information available

15.036[J] Dimensions of Geoengineering
______

Graduate (Fall); first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.850[J], 5.000[J], 10.600[J], 11.388[J], 12.884[J], 16.645[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Familiarizes students with the potential contributions and risks of using geoengineering technologies to control climate damage from global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Discusses geoengineering in relation to other climate change responses: reducing emissions, removing CO2 from the atmosphere, and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Limited to 100.
J. Deutch, M. Zuber

15.037[J] Energy Economics and Policy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 14.44[J])
Prereq: 14.01 or 15.0111
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 14.444, 15.035, 15.038
______
Analyzes business and public policy issues in energy markets and in the environmental markets to which they are closely tied. Examines the economic determinants of industry structure and evolution of competition among firms in these industries. Investigates successful and unsuccessful strategies for entering new markets and competing in existing markets. Industries studied include oil, natural gas, coal, electricity, and transportation. Topics include climate change and environmental policy, the role of speculation in energy markets, the political economy of energy policies, and market power and antitrust. Two team-based simulation games, representing the world oil market and a deregulated electricity market, act to cement the concepts covered in lecture. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 60.
C. Knittel

15.038[J] Energy Economics and Policy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 14.444[J])
Prereq: 14.01 or 15.0111
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 14.44, 15.035, 15.037
______
Analyzes business and public policy issues in energy markets and in the environmental markets to which they are closely tied. Examines the economic determinants of industry structure and evolution of competition among firms in these industries. Investigates successful and unsuccessful strategies for entering new markets and competing in existing markets. Industries studied include oil, natural gas, coal, electricity, and transportation. Topics include climate change and environmental policy, the role of speculation in energy markets, the political economy of energy policies, and market power and antitrust. Two team-based simulation games, representing the world oil market and a deregulated electricity market, act to cement the concepts covered in lecture. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 60.
C. Knittel

15.039[J] Organizational Economics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 14.26[J])
(Subject meets with 14.260)
Prereq: 14.01
Units: 4-0-8
______
Provides a rigorous, but not overly technical introduction to the economic theory of organization together with a varying set of applications. Addresses incentives, control, relationships, decision processes, and organizational culture and performance. Introduces selected fundamentals of game theory. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. Gibbons

Operations Research/Statistics

15.053 Optimization Methods in Business Analytics
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: 1.00, 1.000, 6.100A, or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW10-11.30 (E51-145) or MW2.30-4 (E51-335) Recitation: F11 (E51-151) or F1 (E51-149) or F2 (E51-149)
______
Introduces optimization methods with a focus on modeling, solution techniques, and analysis. Covers linear programming, network optimization, integer programming, nonlinear programming, and heuristics. Applications to logistics, manufacturing, statistics, machine learning, transportation, game theory, marketing, project management, and finance. Includes projects in which student teams solve optimization problems of practical interest.
J. Orlin, T. Magnanti
No required or recommended textbooks

15.054[J] The Airline Industry
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.232[J], 16.71[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Overview of the global airline industry, focusing on recent industry performance, current issues and challenges for the future. Fundamentals of airline industry structure, airline economics, operations planning, safety, labor relations, airports and air traffic control, marketing, and competitive strategies, with an emphasis on the interrelationships among major industry stakeholders. Recent research findings of the MIT Global Airline Industry Program are showcased, including the impacts of congestion and delays, evolution of information technologies, changing human resource management practices, and competitive effects of new entrant airlines. Taught by faculty participants of the Global Airline Industry Program.
F. Allroggen

15.060 Data, Models, and Decisions
______

Graduate (Fall, Summer)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Credit cannot also be received for 15.730
______
Introduces students to the basic tools in using data to make informed management decisions. Covers basic topics in data analytics, including introductory probability, decision analysis, basic statistics, regression, simulation, linear and discrete optimization, and introductory machine learning. Spreadsheet exercises, cases, and examples drawn from marketing, finance, operations management, and other management functions. Restricted to first-year Sloan master's students.
C. Podimata, R. Ramakrishnan, A. Sun

15.062[J] Data Mining: Finding the Models and Predictions that Create Value
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as IDS.145[J])
(Subject meets with 15.0621)
Prereq: 15.060, 15.075, or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW4-5.30 (E51-315) Recitation: T4 (E62-262)
______
Introduction to data mining, data science, and machine learning for recognizing patterns, developing models and predictive analytics, and making intelligent use of massive amounts of data collected via the internet, e-commerce, electronic banking, medical databases, etc. Topics include logistic regression, association rules, tree-structured classification and regression, cluster analysis, discriminant analysis, and neural network methods. Presents examples of successful applications in credit ratings, fraud detection, marketing, customer relationship management, investments, and synthetic clinical trials. Introduces data-mining software (R and Python). Grading based on homework, cases, and a term project. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking the undergraduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.
R. Welsch
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

15.0621 Data Mining: Finding the Models and Predictions that Create Value
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
(Subject meets with 15.062[J], IDS.145[J])
Prereq: 15.075 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW4-5.30 (E51-315) Recitation: T4 (E62-262)
______
Introduction to data mining, data science, and machine learning for recognizing patterns, developing models and predictive analytics, and making intelligent use of massive amounts of data collected via the internet, e-commerce, electronic banking, medical databases, etc. Topics include logistic regression, association rules, tree-structured classification and regression, cluster analysis, discriminant analysis, and neural network methods. Presents examples of successful applications in credit ratings, fraud detection, marketing, customer relationship management, investments, and synthetic clinical trials. Introduces data-mining software (R and Python). Grading based on homework, cases, and a term project. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking the graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.
R. Welsch
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

15.066[J] System Optimization and Analysis for Operations
______

Graduate (Summer)
(Same subject as 2.851[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to mathematical modeling, optimization, and simulation, as applied to manufacturing and operations. Specific methods include linear programming, network flow problems, integer and nonlinear programming, discrete-event simulation, heuristics and computer applications for manufacturing processes, operations and systems. Restricted to Leaders for Global Operations students.
Staff

15.068 Statistical Consulting
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 15.060
Units: 3-0-6
______
Addresses statistical issues as a consultant would face them: deciphering the client's question; finding appropriate data; performing a viable analysis; and presenting the results in compelling ways. Real-life cases and examples.
Staff

15.069 Applied Probability and Statistics
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR)
Units: 4-0-8
______
Presents probability from the perspective of applied mathematics, with strong emphasis on an intuitive overview of key theorems and continuing demonstrations of their usefulness. Covers the laws of probability and numerous important discrete and continuous random variables, both individually and in combination. Introduces simulation. Offers an introduction to statistics that emphasizes its probabilistic foundations and the fact that statistical reasoning is applied common sense. Covers hypothesis testing, statistical sampling, and various forms of regression analysis. Draws applications from economics, finance, engineering, marketing, public policy, operations management, and operations research.
A. Barnett

15.070[J] Discrete Probability and Stochastic Processes
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.7720[J], 18.619[J])
Prereq: 6.3702, 6.7700, 18.100A, 18.100B, or 18.100Q
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (E25-111)
______
Provides an introduction to tools used for probabilistic reasoning in the context of discrete systems and processes. Tools such as the probabilistic method, first and second moment method, martingales, concentration and correlation inequalities, theory of random graphs, weak convergence, random walks and Brownian motion, branching processes, Markov chains, Markov random fields, correlation decay method, isoperimetry, coupling, influences and other basic tools of modern research in probability will be presented. Algorithmic aspects and connections to statistics and machine learning will be emphasized.
K. Liu
No textbook information available

15.071 The Analytics Edge
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: 15.060
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 15.0711, 15.072
Lecture: MW10-11.30 (E51-325) or MW1-2.30 (E51-335) or TR1-2.30 (E51-395) Recitation: R9 (E51-315) or R4 (E62-262) or F11 (E51-395)
______
Develops models and tools of data analytics that are used to transform businesses and industries, using examples and case studies in e-commerce, healthcare, social media, high technology, criminal justice, the internet, and beyond. Covers analytics methods such as linear regression, logistic regression, classification trees, random forests, neural networks, text analytics, social network analysis, time series modeling, clustering, and optimization. Uses mostly R programming language and some work in Jupyter notebooks. Includes team project. Meets with 15.0711 when offered concurrently. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.
Fall: E. Yao
Spring: R. Freund, S. Gupta
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

15.0711 The Analytics Edge
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 15.053 and 15.069
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 15.071, 15.072
Lecture: MW10-11.30 (E51-325) or MW1-2.30 (E51-335) or TR1-2.30 (E51-395) Recitation: R9 (E51-315) or R4 (E62-262) or F11 (E51-395)
______
Develops models and tools of data analytics that are used to transform businesses and industries, using examples and case studies in e-commerce, healthcare, social media, high technology, criminal justice, the internet, and beyond. Covers analytics methods such as linear regression, logistic regression, classification trees, random forests, neural networks, text analytics, social network analysis, time series modeling, clustering, and optimization. Uses mostly R programming language and some work in Jupyter notebooks. Includes team project. Meets with 15.071 when offered concurrently. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.
R. Freund, S. Gupta
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

15.072 Advanced Analytics Edge
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 15.071, 15.0711
______
More advanced version of 15.071 introduces core methods of business analytics, their algorithmic implementations and their applications to various domains of management and public policy. Spans descriptive analytics (e.g., clustering, dimensionality reduction), predictive analytics (e.g., linear/logistic regression, classification and regression trees, random forests, boosting deep learning) and prescriptive analytics (e.g., optimization). Presents analytics algorithms, and their implementations in data science. Includes case studies in e-commerce, transportation, energy, healthcare, social media, sports, the internet, and beyond. Uses the R and Julia programming languages. Includes team projects. Preference to Sloan Master of Business Analytics students.
R. Mazumder

15.073[J] Applied Probability and Stochastic Models
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.203[J], IDS.700[J])
Prereq: 6.3700 or 18.600
Units: 3-0-9
______
A vigorous use of probabilistic models to approximate real-life situations in Finance, Operations Management, Economics, and Operations Research. Emphasis on how to develop a suitable probabilistic model in a given setting and, merging probability with statistics, and on how to validate a proposed model against empirical evidence. Extensive treatment of Monte Carlo simulation for modeling random processes when analytic solutions are unattainable.
Staff

15.075[J] Statistical Thinking and Data Analysis
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) Institute Lab
(Same subject as IDS.013[J])
Prereq: 6.3700 or 15.069
Units: 3-1-8
______
Introduces a rigorous treatment of statistical data analysis while helping students develop a strong intuition for the strengths and limitations of various methods. Topics include statistical sampling and uncertainty, estimation, hypothesis testing, linear regression, classification, analysis of variation, and elements of data mining. Involves empirical use of hypothesis testing and other statistical methodologies in several domains, including the assessment of A-B experiments on the web and the identification of genes correlated with diseases.
Staff

15.076 Analytics for a Better World
______

Undergrad (Spring) Institute Lab
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR)
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW11.30-1 (E51-325) Recitation: F11.30 (E51-315) +final
______
Introduces predictive and prescriptive analytics methods to solve problems that contribute to the welfare of society. Emphasis on using machine learning and optimization methods in innovative ways using real world data. Methods used include: linear and discrete optimization, linear and logistic regression, optimal classification and regression trees, deep learning, random forests, and boosted trees. Projects utilize Julia, Jump, and Tensor Flow. Assessment based on projects, including a capstone project. Restricted to undergraduates.
D. Bertsimas
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

15.077[J] Statistical Machine Learning and Data Science
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as IDS.147[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Advanced introduction to theory and application of statistics, data-mining and machine learning using techniques from management science, marketing, finance, consulting, and bioinformatics. Covers bootstrap theory of estimation, testing, nonparametric statistics, analysis of variance, experimental design, categorical data analysis, regression analysis, MCMC, and Bayesian methods. Focuses on data mining, supervised learning, and multivariate analysis. Topics chosen from logistic regression, principal components and dimension reduction; discrimination and classification analysis, trees (CART), partial least squares, nearest neighbors, regularized methods, support vector machines, boosting and bagging, clustering, independent component analysis, and nonparametric regression. Uses statistics software R, Python, and MATLAB. Grading based on homework, cases, and a term project.
R. Welsch

15.081[J] Introduction to Mathematical Programming
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.7210[J])
Prereq: 18.06
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to linear optimization and its extensions emphasizing both methodology and the underlying mathematical structures and geometrical ideas. Covers classical theory of linear programming as well as some recent advances in the field. Topics: simplex method; duality theory; sensitivity analysis; network flow problems; decomposition; robust optimization; integer programming; interior point algorithms for linear programming; and introduction to combinatorial optimization and NP-completeness.
P. Jaillet

15.083 Integer Optimization
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 6.7210 or 15.093
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW4-5.30 (E62-276) Recitation: F11 (E51-376) +final
______
In-depth treatment of mixed-integer optimization. Topics include modeling techniques, combinatorial optimization, ideal formulations, cutting plane methods, branching algorithms, row generation algorithms, column generation algorithms, heuristic algorithms, and mixed-integer non-linear optimization. Instruction provided in modeling complex problems arising in practice; understanding the theory of integer optimization; knowing the core technologies employed within modern solvers; and developing algorithms to solve large-scale problems for which off-the-shelf solvers may not be sufficient. Examples drawn from a broad range of industries, such as transportation, energy, telecommunications, finance, product design, sports, and social networks. Includes a term project.
A. Jacquillat
No textbook information available

15.084[J] Nonlinear Optimization
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.7220[J])
Prereq: 18.06 and (18.100A, 18.100B, or 18.100Q)
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (34-101) Recitation: F10 (E51-057) or F11 (E51-057) +final
______
Unified analytical and computational approach to nonlinear optimization problems. Unconstrained optimization methods include gradient, conjugate direction, Newton, sub-gradient and first-order methods. Constrained optimization methods include feasible directions, projection, interior point methods, and Lagrange multiplier methods. Convex analysis, Lagrangian relaxation, nondifferentiable optimization, and applications in integer programming. Comprehensive treatment of optimality conditions and Lagrange multipliers. Geometric approach to duality theory. Applications drawn from control, communications, machine learning, and resource allocation problems.
G. Farina
No required or recommended textbooks

15.085[J] Fundamentals of Probability
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.7700[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to probability theory. Probability spaces and measures. Discrete and continuous random variables. Conditioning and independence. Multivariate normal distribution. Abstract integration, expectation, and related convergence results. Moment generating and characteristic functions. Bernoulli and Poisson process. Finite-state Markov chains. Convergence notions and their relations. Limit theorems. Familiarity with elementary probability and real analysis is desirable.
D. Gamarnik

15.086 Engineering Probability
______

Graduate (Summer); first half of term
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR) and permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-2
______
Introduction to applied probability. Makes real-life problems central to the pedagogy and aims for an intuitive understanding of probability as well as mastery of key probabilistic concepts and methods. Preference to first-year Leaders for Global Operations students.
A. Barnett

15.087 Engineering Statistics and Data Science
______

Graduate (Summer)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), 15.086, 18.06, and permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Develops ideas for making principled decisions and recommendations based on data, providing an introduction to statistical inference and statistical learning. Covers data displays and summary statistics for quantitative and qualitative data, the law of large numbers for means and empirical distributions, the normal distribution and the central limit theorem, confidence intervals, statistical hypothesis tests for the population mean and differences between population means, simple and multiple regression with quantitative data, model selection, the bias-variance tradeoff, logistic regression for binary outcomes, CART, random forests, gradient boosting, and deep learning. The statistical programming language R is used for in-class demonstrations and for out-of-class assignments. Preference to first-year Leaders for Global Operations students. No required textbook.
Staff

15.089 Analytics Capstone
______

Graduate (IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (E51-325)
______
Practical application of business analytics problems within a real company. Teams of 1-2 students, matched with company projects, visit companies to define project and scope. In class, students refine and improve on projects and devise methods for solving problems for their select companies. Mentors are assigned to each team. The culmination of the program is summer, on-site, practical training. Restricted to Master of Business Analytics students.
IAP: M. Li, J. Levine
Spring: M. Li, J. Levine
Summer: M. Li, J. Levine
No textbook information available

15.090 Common Experience in Operations Research
______

Graduate (Summer)
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Provides students with experience working in teams on a data-driven ML project. After a week of classes that cover a range of tools (Keras, Google Collab, etc.) and deep learning technologies, students compete in teams in a jointly chosen Kaggle competition. Short homework assignments help students get acquainted with the required technologies, and regular presentations foster interactions within the ORC cohort. Restricted to Operations Research Center doctoral students.
T. Lykouris, C. Podimata

15.094[J] Robust Modeling, Optimization, and Computation
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.142[J])
Prereq: 18.06 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduces modern robust optimization, including theory, applications, and computation. Presents formulations and their connection to probability, information and risk theory for conic optimization (linear, second-order, and semidefinite cones) and integer optimization. Application domains include analysis and optimization of stochastic networks, optimal mechanism design, network information theory, transportation, pattern classification, structural and engineering design, and financial engineering. Students formulate and solve a problem aligned with their interests in a final project.
Staff

15.095 Machine Learning Under a Modern Optimization Lens
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 6.7210, 15.093, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
______
Develops algorithms for central problems in machine learning from a modern optimization perspective. Topics include sparse, convex, robust and median regression; an algorithmic framework for regression; optimal classification and regression trees, and their relationship with neural networks; how to transform predictive algorithms to prescriptive algorithms; optimal prescriptive trees; and robust classification.  Also covers design of experiments, missing data imputations, mixture of Gaussian models, exact bootstrap, and sparse matrix estimation, including principal component analysis, factor analysis, inverse co-variance matrix estimation, and matrix completion.
K. Villalobos Carballo

15.097 Seminar in Statistics and Data Analysis
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Group study of current topics related to statistics and data analysis.
Staff

15.098 Seminar in Applied Probability and Stochastic Processes
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 6.3702
Units: 2-0-4
______
Doctoral student seminar covering current topics in applied probability and stochastic processes.
Staff

15.099 Seminar in Operations Research
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 6.7210
Units arranged
______
Doctoral student seminar covering current topics related to operations research.
Staff

15.110 Operations Research Experience Internship
______

Graduate (Summer)
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Required subject in which students engage in an off-campus internship where they build operations research models and work with data that addresses a real-world problem. Internship experience must be at least ten weeks in length and students must have a formal offer letter from their employer or organization. Requirements include a report summarizing how OR models and methods were used by the student participating in the internship and a letter from the internship advisor. Report must be submitted to the ORC academic administrator upon completion of the internship. Restricted to ORC students. Additional restrictions may apply.
Staff

For additional related subjects in Statistics, see:

Civil and Environmental Engineering: 1.151, 1.155, 1.202, 1.203, and 1.205

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science: 6.041, 6.231, 6.245, 6.262, 6.431, and 6.435

Management: 15.034, 15.070, 15.075, and 15.098

Mathematics: 18.05, 18.175, 18.177, 18.440, 18.443, 18.445, and 18.465

See also: 2.830, 5.70, 5.72, 7.02, 8.044, 8.08, 10.816, 11.220, 16.322, 22.38, HST.191, and MAS.622

Health Care Management

15.128[J] Revolutionary Ventures: How to Invent and Deploy Transformative Technologies
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 9.455[J], 20.454[J], MAS.883[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-7
______
Seminar on envisioning and building ideas and organizations to accelerate engineering revolutions. Focuses on emerging technology domains, such as neurotechnology, imaging, cryotechnology, gerontechnology, and bio-and-nano fabrication. Draws on historical examples as well as live case studies of existing or emerging organizations, including labs, institutes, startups, and companies. Goals range from accelerating basic science to developing transformative products or therapeutics. Each class is devoted to a specific area, often with invited speakers, exploring issues from the deeply technical through the strategic. Individually or in small groups, students prototype new ventures aimed at inventing and deploying revolutionary technologies.
E. Boyden, J. Bonsen, J. Jacobson

15.136[J] Principles and Practice of Drug Development
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 10.547[J], HST.920[J], IDS.620[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Description and critical assessment of the major issues and stages of developing a pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical. Drug discovery, preclinical development, clinical investigation, manufacturing and regulatory issues considered for small and large molecules. Economic and financial considerations of the drug development process. Multidisciplinary perspective from faculty in clinical; life; and management sciences; as well as industry guests.
S. Finkelstein

15.137[J] Case Studies and Strategies in Drug Discovery and Development
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 7.549[J], 20.486[J], HST.916[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Aims to develop appreciation for the stages of drug discovery and development, from target identification, to the submission of preclinical and clinical data to regulatory authorities for marketing approval. Following introductory lectures on the process of drug development, students working in small teams analyze how one of four new drugs or drug candidates traversed the discovery/development landscape. For each case, an outside expert from the sponsoring drug company or pivotal clinical trial principal investigator provides guidance and critiques the teams' presentations to the class.
A. W. Wood

15.141[J] Economics of Health Care Industries
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
(Same subject as HST.918[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
Credit cannot also be received for 15.1411
Ends Mar 14. Lecture: TR2.30-4 (E51-335) or TR4-5.30 (E51-335)
______
Uses economics as a framework to consider healthcare issues, including differences between health care and other industries, the role of health insurance, regulatory issues and incentives for innovation, data analytics to measure value, personalized/stratified medicines, strategic issues in pricing and marketing, use of e-commerce and information technology, and formation and management of various alliances. Provides a better understanding of the US healthcare landscape, and considers incentives for global health investments. Visiting speakers from industry and academia provide multiple expert viewpoints on these topics. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking the graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.
E. Mendez Escobar
No textbook information available

15.1411 Economics of Health Care Industries
______

Undergrad (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
Credit cannot also be received for 15.141, HST.918
Ends Mar 14. Lecture: TR2.30-4 (E51-335) or TR4-5.30 (E51-335)
______
Uses economics as a framework to consider healthcare issues, including differences between health care and other industries, the role of health insurance, regulatory issues and incentives for innovation, data analytics to measure value, personalized/stratified medicines, strategic issues in pricing and marketing, use of e-commerce and information technology, and formation and management of various alliances. Provides a better understanding of the US healthcare landscape, and considers incentives for global health investments. Visiting speakers from industry and academia provide multiple expert viewpoints on these topics. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking the undergraduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.
E. Mendez Escobar
No textbook information available

Global Economics & Management

15.216 Central Banks, Monetary Policy and Global Financial Markets
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR4-5.30 (E51-395)
______
Explores the role of central banks and monetary policy in the global economy and the effects of their policies on countries, companies and global financial markets. Reviews the decision-making process and policy implementation, and provides conceptual tools for analyzing and predicting central bank decisions and assessing their likely impact. Covers monetary policy, bank regulation and crisis management, drawing on the experience of the Federal Reserve, the ECB and other central banks in advanced and emerging market economies.
A. Orphanides
No textbook information available

15.218 Global Economic Challenges and Opportunities
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
In-depth analysis of the major risks and opportunities in the global economy. Analyzes key economic forces and policy responses that shape the business environment and link countries around the world, such as financial crises, monetary and fiscal policy, trade wars, unsustainable debt, exchange rates, and financial contagion. Discusses current global economic issues to develop the tools and frameworks to be able to predict and plan for how governments will respond to different challenges in the future. Some background or coursework in international economics recommended. Preference given to MIT Sloan students.
Staff

15.219[J] Global Energy: Politics, Markets, and Policy
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 11.267[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 11.167, 14.47, 15.2191, 17.399
______
Focuses on the ways economics and politics influence the fate of energy technologies, business models, and policies around the world. Extends fundamental concepts in the social sciences to case studies and simulations that illustrate how corporate, government, and individual decisions shape energy and environmental outcomes. In a final project, students apply the concepts in order to assess the prospects for an energy innovation to scale and advance sustainability goals in a particular regional market. Recommended prerequisite: 14.01. Meets with 15.2191 when offered concurrently. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.
Staff

15.2191[J] Global Energy: Politics, Markets, and Policy
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 11.167[J], 14.47[J], 17.399[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 11.267, 15.219
______
Focuses on the ways economics and politics influence the fate of energy technologies, business models, and policies around the world. Extends fundamental concepts in the social sciences to case studies and simulations that illustrate how corporate, government, and individual decisions shape energy and environmental outcomes. In a final project, students apply the concepts in order to assess the prospects for an energy innovation to scale and advance sustainability goals in a particular regional market. Recommended prerequisite: 14.01. Meets with 15.219 when offered concurrently. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details. Preference to juniors, seniors, and Energy Minors.
Staff

15.223 Global Markets, National Policies and the Competitive Advantages of Firms
______

Graduate (Fall); second half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
______
Examines opportunities and risks firms face in today's global market. Provides conceptual tools for analyzing how governments and social institutions influence economic competition among firms embedded in different national settings. Public policies and institutions that shape competitive outcomes are examined through cases and analytical readings on different companies and industries operating in both developed and emerging markets.
S. Johnson, L. Videgaray

15.225 Modern Economy and Business in China
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW4-5.30 (E51-325)
______
Provides an integrated approach to analyzing the economy, geopolitics, and political economy of China through case studies, lectures, and class discussions. Covers modern history, economics, and politics in China that shape the business environment, cases of companies entering or operating in the Chinese market, and also issues related to Taiwan and Hong Kong. Students work on real-world problems and challenges facing policymakers and company executives. Topics include economic and political decision-making, technological development, economic growth, capital inflows and outflows, middle-income trap, and advantages and disadvantages of autocracy.
Y. Huang
No textbook information available

15.226 Modern Business in Southeast Asia: ASEAN Lab
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW10-11.30 (E51-335)
______
Provides integrated approach to analyze the economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region — specifically Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia — through action learning. Covers modern history, economics, and politics in that region that shape the business environment, cases of companies operating in that region, and project-related issues and personal and learning reflections. Students work in teams to tackle a real world business problem with an entrepreneurial Indian ASEAN-based company and produce a final deliverable for the host company. Projects focus on dynamic sectors such as artificial intelligence, the sharing economy, social media, health care, energy, and manufacturing; examples include creating a business plan for fundraising, developing a new market strategy, and assembling financial models. Limited to graduate students who participate in ASEAN Lab.
J. Grant
No textbook information available

15.227 - 15.229 Seminar in International Management
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
15.228: Ends Mar 14. Lecture: M EVE (6-9 PM) (E62-223, E62-250, E62-276)
______
Group study of current topics related to international business.
Staff
15.228: No textbook information available

15.230 Public Policy and the Private Sector
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Explores the intersection of public policy and the private sector. Senior level guests, who have been deeply involved in public policy, will join this discussion-based course weekly focusing on key economic policy choices - touching on technology, trade, tax, financial, macro-economic and competitions policies. Provides a deep understanding of the process by which policy comes to life. Examines how the private sector affects - and sometimes shapes - public policy. Taught through the lens of US policy decision-making; also covers international dimensions.
Staff

15.232 Breakthrough Ventures: Effective Business Models in Frontier Markets
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
Ends Mar 14. Lecture: TR1-2.30 (E52-164)
______
Examines how new approaches to operations, revenue, marketing, finance, and strategy enable improved social outcomes in resource-limited settings across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Draws on system dynamics, design thinking, and strategic analysis. Explores success and failure in attempts to innovate and scale in product and service delivery. Analysis of novel business models draws on case studies, videos, industry reports, research, and guest speakers. Students present their assessments of innovative base-of-the-pyramid enterprises that aim to do more with less. Students who have not taken at least three management or business classes must apply to the instructor for permission to enroll before the first day of class.
A. Sastry
No textbook information available

15.235 Blockchain and Money
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
______
Explores blockchain technology's potential use - by entrepreneurs and incumbents - to change the world of money and finance. Begins with a review of the technology's initial application, the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, giving students an understanding of the commercial, technical and public policy fundamentals of blockchain technology, distributed ledgers and smart contracts in both open-sourced and private applications. Focuses on current and potential blockchain applications in the financial sector. Includes reviews of potential use cases for payment systems, central banking, venture capital, secondary market trading, trade finance, commercial banking, post-trade possessing, and digital ID. Also explores the markets and regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies, initial coin offerings, other tokens, and crypto derivatives. Open to undergraduates with permission of instructor.
S. Johnson

15.236 Global Business of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (GBAIR)
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-2-2
Ends Mar 14. Lecture: TR EVE (5.30-7 PM) (E62-223)
______
Discussion based-course examines applications of artificial intelligence and robotics in the business world. Emphasizes understanding the likely direction of technology and how it is likely to be used. Students examine particular applications to deepen their understanding of topical issues. Also focuses on how global economies will change in light of this wave of technology. Preference to Sloan graduate students.
J. Ruane, S. Johnson
No textbook information available

15.238[J] Shaping the Future of Technology: From Early Agriculture to Artificial Intelligence
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 14.78[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Provides a framework for thinking about major technological transitions over the past 12,000 years as a means to explore paths to a better future. Discusses who gains or loses from innovation and who can shape the future of artificial intelligence, biotech, and other breakthroughs. Introduces major questions tackled by researchers and relevant to economic policy through faculty lectures, interactive events with prominent guests, and group work. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided.
D. Acemoglu, S. Johnson

15.248 MENA Lab: Promoting Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-1-8
______
Experiential study of the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Middle East and North Africa leveraging on the historic Abraham Accords. Explores the role of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, MNCs, universities, and governments. Teaches the McKinsey process for successful consulting engagements and what makes for high performing teams. Students travel to the Middle East during IAP to work with and consult for host companies on strategic managerial issues in tech industries. Includes an opportunity to work with executives at startup ventures looking to scale their businesses and to engage with their venture capitalist backers.
Fall: J. Cohen
IAP: J. Cohen
No textbook information available

History, Environment and Ethics

15.268 Choice Points: Thinking about Life and Leadership through Literature
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6 [P/D/F]
Lecture: F10-12 (E51-345)
______
Explores decision making and leadership. Analyzes the dilemmas and decisions characters face in a selection of plays, stories, and films. Provokes reflection on what constitutes effective and moral reasoning in critical moments of both life and leadership.  Restricted to Sloan Fellow MBAs.
C. Turco
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

15.269 Leadership Stories: Literature, Ethics, and Authority
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Explores how we use story to articulate ethical norms. The syllabus consists of short fiction, novels, plays, feature films and some non-fiction. Major topics include leadership and authority, professionalism, the nature of ethical standards, social enterprise, and questions of gender, cultural and individual identity, and work/life balance. Materials vary from year to year, but past readings have included work by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Seamus Heaney, Aravind Adiga, Ursula LeGuin, Hao Jingfang, Mohsin Hamid, and others; films have included The Lives of Others, Daughters of the Dust, Hotel Rwanda, Hamilton, and others. Draws on various professions and national cultures, and is run as a series of moderated discussions, with students centrally engaged in the teaching process.
L. Hafrey

Communication

15.270 Ethical Practice: Leading Through Professionalism, Social Responsibility, and System Design
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW1-2.30 (E62-276)
______
Introduction to ethics in business, with a focus on business management. Students explore theoretical concepts in business ethics, and cases representing the challenges they will likely face as managers. Opportunity to work with guest faculty as well as business and other professional practitioners. Individual sessions take the form of moderated discussion, with occasional short lectures from instructor.
L. Hafrey
No textbook information available

15.275 Creative Industries: Media, Entertainment, and the Arts
(New)
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Explores the market structure and dynamics of the creative industries, which include but are not limited to music, television, film, publishing, video games, performing arts, fine arts, sports, fashion, and news. Exposes students to both the creative and business sides of these industries. On the creative side, students learn about content creation and production processes and also experience them, including through developing, pitching, storyboarding, and prototyping an original content idea. On the business side, students learn strategies to distribute, promote, and measure creative content and are given an opportunity to apply these strategies as well. Assignments include individual papers and a semester-long team project.
B. Shields

15.276 Communicating with Data
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (E62-221) or MW2.30-4 (E62-221) or TR1-2.30 (E62-221)
______
Equips students with the strategies, tactics, and tools to use quantitative information to inform and persuade others. Emphasizes effective communication skills as the foundation of successful careers. Develops the skills to communicate quantitative information in a business context to drive people and organizations toward better decisions. Focuses heavily on the cycle of practicing, reflecting, and revising. Students receive extensive, personalized feedback from teaching team and classmates. Limited to 25; priority to 15-2 and 6-14 majors.
Fall: L. Breslow, M. Webster
Spring: L. Breslow, C. Cullen
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

15.277 Seminar in Communications
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Group study of current topics related to communication.
Staff

15.278 Seminar in Communications
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Group study of current topics related to communication.
Staff

15.279 Management Communication for Undergraduates
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (E62-221)
______
Develops writing, speaking, teamwork, interpersonal, social media, and cross-cultural communication skills necessary for management professionals. Assignments include creating persuasive memos, writing in response to cases, and giving presentations. Major project involves the production of a team report and presentation on a topic of interest to a professional audience.
M. Webster
No textbook information available

15.280 Communication for Leaders
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-5
Credit cannot also be received for 15.710
______
Students develop and polish communication strategies and methods through discussion, examples, and practice. Emphasizes writing and speaking skills necessary for effective leaders. Includes several oral and written assignments which are integrated with other subjects, and with career development activities, when possible. Schedule and curriculum coordinated with Organizational Processes. Mandatory one hour recitation in small groups. Restricted to first-year Sloan graduate students.
N. Hartman

15.281 Advanced Leadership Communication
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 15.279, 15.280, 15.284, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (E62-250) or MW2.30-4 (E62-250) or TR1-2.30 (E62-250) or TR2.30-4 (E62-250)
______
Introduces interactive oral and interpersonal communication skills critical to leaders, including strategies for presenting to a hostile audience, running effective and productive meetings, active listening, and contributing to group decision-making. Includes team-run classes on chosen communication topics, and an individual analysis of leadership qualities and characteristics. Students deliver an oral presentation and an executive summary, both aimed at a business audience.
N. Hartman, V. Healy-Tangney, S. Springer
No textbook information available

15.283 Social Media Management: Persuasion in Networked Culture
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: W EVE (4-7 PM) (E51-151)
______
Explores how organizations and leaders can maximize the business value of social media platforms. Provides a framework and best practices for social media management, enhances understanding of strategic communication within the social media context, and improves social media communication skills. Assignments include case analysis, weekly content creation, and a final group project on social media strategy and content.
B. Shields
No textbook information available

15.284 Strategic Leadership Communication
______

Graduate (Fall); partial term
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
______
Introduces the essentials of how individuals and organizations develop and implement effective communication strategies, focusing on persuasion, audience analysis, communicator credibility, message construction, and delivery. Includes oral presentations and writing assignments with feedback to help students improve their communication effectiveness. Provides instruction to create communication strategies, develop and present clearly organized and powerful presentations, expand personal oral delivery and writing styles, and enhance presentations through effective visual aids. Restricted to Sloan Fellow MBAs.
N. Hartman

15.285 Sports Strategy and Analytics
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: T EVE (4-7 PM) (E62-250)
______
Explores how leaders and organizations apply data and analytics to gain a competitive edge in the multibillion-dollar global sports industry. Provides context on the structure and dynamics of the sports industry, discusses best practices in data-driven decision making both on- and off-the-field, and improves students' skills in analyzing and communicating data. Assignments include a decision analysis paper and a final team project in which students apply their skills to solve a problem in sports.
B. Shields
No textbook information available

15.286 Communicating with Data
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: 15.280, 15.284, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
Credit cannot also be received for 15.287, 15.721
Lecture: TR10-11.30 (ENDS MAR 14) (E51-145) or TR1-2.30 (ENDS MAR 14) (E62-223) or MW1-2.30 (ENDS MAR 14) (E51-149) or TR10-11.30 (BEGINS MAR 31) (E51-145) or TR1-2.30 (BEGINS MAR 31) (E62-223) or MW1-2.30 (BEGINS MAR 31) (E51-149)
______
Focuses on structuring the oral and visual communication of data. Introduces these concepts and a methodology of self-reflection to help students accelerate their life-long learning process. Improves students' ability to develop strategic communications that use data to persuade others to take action. Primary focus is on reducing barriers to action by making data as easy as possible for others to absorb through clear structure, clear design, and clear delivery. Significant time will be devoted to practice. Students give and receive substantial feedback on their work.
M. Kazakoff, A. Mehrotra
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

15.287 Communication and Persuasion Through Data
______

Graduate (IAP)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1
Credit cannot also be received for 15.286, 15.721
______
Focuses on the strategic and tactical use of data to move others to take (the correct) action. Sharpens communication skills via practice and real-world examples. Students spend significant time writing, speaking and designing visuals for a professional audience. Intended for students who expect to communicate quantitative information with non-experts inside and outside of their organizations, as well as students seeking to improve communication skills in general. Restricted to Sloan Master of Business Analytics students.
A. Telio
No textbook information available

15.288 Tough Conversations
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
______
Equips managers with the knowledge and skills to productively navigate conversations about race, gender, and other aspects of social identities at work. Analyzes the structure of difficult conversations, investigates the research on conversational dynamics, and explores strategies for speaking up in organizations. Significant class time is devoted to experiential exercises. Weekly assignments include individual written reflections based on readings and research. For the final project, students write a short case, record a conversation, and assess their work. Restricted to second-year MBA students.
K. Blackburn

15.289 Communication Skills for Academic Success
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
Lecture: W EVE (4-6 PM) (E62-346)
______
Focuses on the communication skills needed for a career in academia. Topics include preparing and delivering conference papers and job talks, formulating and rehearsing elevator pitches, methods for effective teaching, creating your professional presence on social media, and discussions for conferences. Participants are expected to deliver multiple oral presentations based on their current research and practice effective teaching methods. Priority to Sloan doctoral students who have completed their first year.
N. Hartman
No textbook information available


left arrow | 15.00-15.299 | 15.30-15.699 | 15.70-15.999 plus UROP and Thesis | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 16: Aeronautics and Astronautics
IAP/Spring 2025


Core Undergraduate Subjects

16.001 Unified Engineering: Materials and Structures
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics I (GIR); Coreq: 16.002 and 18.03
Units: 5-1-6
______
Presents fundamental principles and methods of materials and structures for aerospace engineering, and engineering analysis and design concepts applied to aerospace systems. Topics include statics; analysis of trusses; analysis of statically determinate and indeterminate systems; stress-strain behavior of materials; analysis of beam bending, buckling, and torsion; material and structural failure, including plasticity, fracture, fatigue, and their physical causes. Experiential lab and aerospace system projects provide additional aerospace context.
R.A. Radovitzky

16.002 Unified Engineering: Signals and Systems
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR); Coreq: Physics II (GIR), 16.001, and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 5-1-6
______
Presents fundamental principles and methods of signals and systems for aerospace engineering, and engineering analysis and design concepts applied to aerospace systems. Topics include linear and time invariant systems; convolution; Fourier and Laplace transform analysis in continuous and discrete time; modulation, filtering, and sampling; and an introduction to feedback control. Experiential lab and system projects provide additional aerospace context. Labs, projects, and assignments involve the use of software such as MATLAB and/or Python.
J. How

16.003 Unified Engineering: Fluid Dynamics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), Physics II (GIR), and (18.03 or 18.032); Coreq: 16.004
Units: 5-1-6
Lecture: MW9,T10,R9-11 (35-225) Lab: TBA
______
Presents fundamental principles and methods of fluid dynamics for aerospace engineering, and engineering analysis and design concepts applied to aerospace systems. Topics include aircraft and aerodynamic performance, conservation laws for fluid flows, quasi-one-dimensional compressible flows, shock and expansion waves, streamline curvature, potential flow modeling, an introduction to three-dimensional wings and induced drag. Experiential lab and aerospace system projects provide additional aerospace context.
D.L. Darmofal, Q. Wang
No textbook information available

16.004 Unified Engineering: Thermodynamics and Propulsion
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), Physics II (GIR), and (18.03 or 18.032); Coreq: Chemistry (GIR) and 16.003
Units: 5-1-6
Lecture: MTW10,F9-11 (35-225) Lab: TBA
______
Presents fundamental principles and methods of thermodynamics for aerospace engineering, and engineering analysis and design concepts applied to aerospace systems. Topics include thermodynamic state of a system, forms of energy, work, heat, the first law of thermodynamics, heat engines, reversible and irreversible processes, entropy and the second law of thermodynamics, ideal and non-ideal cycle analysis, two-phase systems, and introductions to thermochemistry and heat transfer. Experiential lab and aerospace system projects provide additional aerospace context.
M. Folk
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

16.06 Principles of Automatic Control
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 16.002
Units: 3-1-8
Lecture: MWF11 (35-225) Recitation: R1 (33-319) or R3 (33-319) +final
______
Introduction to design of feedback control systems. Properties and advantages of feedback systems. Time-domain and frequency-domain performance measures. Stability and degree of stability. Root locus method, Nyquist criterion, frequency-domain design, and some state space methods. Strong emphasis on the synthesis of classical controllers. Application to a variety of aerospace systems. Hands-on experiments using simple robotic systems.
J.P. How
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

16.07 Dynamics
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: (16.001 or 16.002) and (16.003 or 16.004)
Units: 4-0-8
______
Fundamentals of Newtonian mechanics. Kinematics, particle dynamics, motion relative to accelerated reference frames, work and energy, impulse and momentum, systems of particles and rigid body dynamics. Applications to aerospace engineering including introductory topics in orbital mechanics, flight dynamics, inertial navigation and attitude dynamics.
R. Linares

16.09 Statistics and Probability
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to statistics and probability with applications to aerospace engineering. Covers essential topics, such as sample space, discrete and continuous random variables, probability distributions, joint and conditional distributions, expectation, transformation of random variables, limit theorems, estimation theory, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, statistical tests, and regression.
E.H. Modiano

16.C20[J] Introduction to Computational Science and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 9.C20[J], 18.C20[J], CSE.C20[J])
Prereq: 6.100A; Coreq: 8.01 and 18.01
Units: 2-0-4
Credit cannot also be received for 6.100B
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3-4.30 (37-212)
______
Provides an introduction to computational algorithms used throughout engineering and science (natural and social) to simulate time-dependent phenomena; optimize and control systems; and quantify uncertainty in problems involving randomness, including an introduction to probability and statistics. Combination of 6.100A and 16.C20J counts as REST subject.
Fall: D.L. Darmofal, N. Seethapathi
Spring: L. Demanet, N. Seethapathi
No textbook information available

Mechanics and Physics of Fluids

16.100 Aerodynamics
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 16.003 and 16.004
Units: 3-1-8
______
Extends fluid mechanic concepts from Unified Engineering to aerodynamic performance of wings and bodies in sub/supersonic regimes. Addresses themes such as subsonic potential flows, including source/vortex panel methods; viscous flows, including laminar and turbulent boundary layers; aerodynamics of airfoils and wings, including thin airfoil theory, lifting line theory, and panel method/interacting boundary layer methods; and supersonic and hypersonic airfoil theory. Material may vary from year to year depending upon focus of design problem.
Q. Wang

16.101 Topics in Fluids
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of department
Units arranged
______
Provides credit for work on undergraduate-level material in fluids outside of regularly scheduled subjects. Intended for transfer credit and study abroad. Credit may be used to satisfy specific degree requirements in the Course 16 and Course 16-ENG programs. Requires prior approval. Consult department.
Fall: D.L. Darmofal
IAP: D.L. Darmofal
Spring: D.L. Darmofal

16.110 Flight Vehicle Aerodynamics
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 16.100 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
______
Aerodynamic flow modeling and representation techniques. Potential farfield approximations. Airfoil and lifting-surface theory. Laminar and turbulent boundary layers and their effects on aerodynamic flows. Nearfield and farfield force analysis. Subsonic, transonic, and supersonic compressible flows. Experimental methods and measurement techniques. Aerodynamic models for flight dynamics.
D.L. Darmofal

16.120 Compressible Internal Flow
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 2.25 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR8.30-10 (31-270)
______
Internal compressible flow with applications in propulsion and fluid systems. Control volume analysis of compressible flow devices. Compressible channel flow and extensions, including effects of shock waves, momentum, energy and mass addition, swirl, and flow non-uniformity on Mach numbers, flow regimes, and choking.
E. M. Greitzer
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

16.122 Aerothermodynamics
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 2.25, 18.085, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (33-422) +final
______
Analysis of external inviscid and viscous hypersonic flows over thin airfoils, lifting bodies of revolution, wedges, cones, and blunt nose bodies. Analyses formulated using singular perturbation and multiple scale methods. Hypersonic equivalence principle. Hypersonic similarity. Newtonian approximation. Curved, detached shock waves. Crocco theorem. Entropy layers. Shock layers. Blast waves. Hypersonic boundary layers.
W. L. Harris
No textbook information available

16.13 Aerodynamics of Viscous Fluids
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 16.100, 16.110, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (33-319)
______
Boundary layers as rational approximations to the solutions of exact equations of fluid motion. Physical parameters influencing laminar and turbulent aerodynamic flows and transition. Effects of compressibility, heat conduction, and frame rotation. Influence of boundary layers on outer potential flow and associated stall and drag mechanisms. Numerical solution techniques and exercises.
M. Drela
No textbook information available

16.18 Fundamentals of Turbulence
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 2.25 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the fundamentals of turbulent flows, i.e., the chaotic motion of gases and liquids, along with the mathematical tools for turbulence research. Topics range from the classic viewpoint of turbulence to the theories developed in the last decade. Combines theory, data science, and numerical simulations, and is designed for a wide audience in the areas of aerospace, mechanical engineering, geophysics, and astrophysics.
Staff

Materials and Structures

16.20 Structural Mechanics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 16.001
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (33-418) Recitation: R4 (33-319) +final
______
Applies solid mechanics to analysis of high-technology structures. Structural design considerations. Review of three-dimensional elasticity theory; stress, strain, anisotropic materials, and heating effects. Two-dimensional plane stress and plane strain problems. Torsion theory for arbitrary sections. Bending of unsymmetrical section and mixed material beams. Bending, shear, and torsion of thin-wall shell beams. Buckling of columns and stability phenomena. Introduction to structural dynamics. Exercises in the design of general and aerospace structures.
R. A. Radovitzky
No textbook information available

16.201 Topics in Materials and Structures
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of department
Units arranged
______
Provides credit for undergraduate-level work in materials and structures outside of regularly scheduled subjects. Intended for transfer credit and study abroad. Credit may be used to satisfy specific degree requirements in the Course 16 program. Requires prior approval. Consult M. A. Stuppard.
Fall: D.L. Darmofal
IAP: D.L. Darmofal
Spring: D.L. Darmofal

16.202 Manufacturing with Advanced Composite Materials
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-3-2
______
Introduces the methods used to manufacture parts made of advanced composite materials with work in the Technology Laboratory for Advanced Composites. Students gain hands-on experience by fabricating, machining, instrumenting, and testing graphite/epoxy specimens. Students also design, build, and test a composite structure as part of a design contest. Lectures supplement laboratory sessions with background information on the nature of composites, curing, composite machining, secondary bonding, and the testing of composites.
Staff

16.215[J] Topology Optimization of Structures
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.583[J], 2.083[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers free-form topology design of structures using formal optimization methods and mathematical programs, including design of structural systems, mechanisms, and material architectures. Strong emphasis on designing with gradient-based optimizers, finite element methods, and design problems governed by structural mechanics. Incorporates optimization theory and computational mechanics fundamentals, problem formulation, sensitivity analysis; and introduces cutting-edge extensions, including to other and multiple physics. 
J. Carstensen

16.221[J] Structural Dynamics
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.581[J], 2.060[J])
(Subject meets with 1.058)
Prereq: 18.03 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
______
Examines response of structures to dynamic excitation: free vibration, harmonic loads, pulses and earthquakes. Covers systems of single- and multiple-degree-of-freedom, up to the continuum limit, by exact and approximate methods. Includes applications to buildings, ships, aircraft and offshore structures. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
H. Borja da Rocha

16.223[J] Mechanics of Heterogeneous Materials
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.076[J])
Prereq: 2.002, 3.032, 16.20, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Mechanical behavior of heterogeneous materials such as thin-film microelectro- mechanical systems (MEMS) materials and advanced filamentary composites, with particular emphasis on laminated structural configurations. Anisotropic and crystallographic elasticity formulations. Structure, properties and mechanics of constituents such as films, substrates, active materials, fibers, and matrices including nano- and micro-scale constituents. Effective properties from constituent properties. Classical laminated plate theory for modeling structural behavior including extrinsic and intrinsic strains and stresses such as environmental effects. Introduction to buckling of plates and nonlinear (deformations) plate theory. Other issues in modeling heterogeneous materials such as fracture/failure of laminated structures.
B. L. Wardle, S-G. Kim

16.225[J] Computational Mechanics of Materials
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.099[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (33-419) Recitation: W4 (33-419)
______
Formulation of numerical (finite element) methods for the analysis of the nonlinear continuum response of materials. The range of material behavior considered includes finite deformation elasticity and inelasticity. Numerical formulation and algorithms include variational formulation and variational constitutive updates; finite element discretization; constrained problems; time discretization and convergence analysis. Strong emphasis on the (parallel) computer implementation of algorithms in programming assignments. The application to real engineering applications and problems in engineering science are stressed throughout. Experience in either C++, C, or Fortran required.
R. Radovitzky
No textbook information available

16.230[J] Plates and Shells: Static and Dynamic Analysis
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.081[J])
Prereq: 2.071, 2.080, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (5-134) Recitation: W2.30 (5-134)
______
Stress-strain relations for plate and shell elements. Differential equations of equilibrium. Energy methods and approximate solutions. Bending and buckling of rectangular plates. Post-buckling and ultimate strength of cold formed sections and typical stiffened panels used in aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering; offshore technology; and ship building. Geometry of curved surfaces. General theory of elastic, axisymmetric shells and their equilibrium equations. Buckling, crushing and bending strength of cylindrical shells with applications. Propagation of 1-D elastic waves in rods, geometrical and material dispersion. Plane, Rayleigh surface, and 3-D waves. 1-D plastic waves. Response of plates and shells to high-intensity loads. Dynamic plasticity and fracture. Application to crashworthiness and impact loading of structures.
W. M. van Rees
No textbook information available

16.235 Design with High Temperature Materials
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW10.30-12 (33-418)
______
Introduction to materials design for high-temperature applications. Fundamental principles of thermodynamics and kinetics of the oxidation and corrosion of materials in high-temperature, chemically aggressive environments. Relationship of oxidation theory to design of metals (iron-, cobalt-, nickel-, refractory- and intermetallic alloys), ceramics, composites (metal-, ceramic- and carbon-matrix, coated materials). Relationships between deformation mechanisms (creep, viscoelasticity, thermoelasticity) and microstructure for materials used at elevated temperature. Discussions of high-temperature oxidation, corrosion, and damage problems that occur in energy and aerospace systems.
Z. C. Cordero
No textbook information available

Information and Control Engineering

16.30 Feedback Control Systems
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 16.31)
Prereq: 16.06 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-1-7
______
Studies state-space representation of dynamic systems, including model realizations, controllability, and observability. Introduces the state-space approach to multi-input-multi-output control system analysis and synthesis, including full state feedback using pole placement, linear quadratic regulator, stochastic state estimation, and the design of dynamic control laws. Also covers performance limitations and robustness. Extensive use of computer-aided control design tools. Applications to various aerospace systems, including navigation, guidance, and control of vehicles. Laboratory exercises utilize a palm-size drone. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S.R. Hall

16.301 Topics in Control, Dynamics, and Automation
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of department
Units arranged
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Provides credit for work on undergraduate-level material in control and/or dynamics and/or automation outside of regularly scheduled subjects. Intended for transfer credit and study abroad. Credit may be used to satisfy specific degree requirements in the Course 16 program. Requires prior approval. Consult department.
Staff

16.31 Feedback Control Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 16.30)
Prereq: 16.06 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
______
Graduate-level version of 16.30; see description under 16.30. Includes additional homework questions, laboratory experiments, and a term project beyond 16.30 with a particular focus on the material associated with state-space realizations of MIMO transfer function (matrices); MIMO zeros, controllability, and observability; stochastic processes and estimation; limitations on performance; design and analysis of dynamic output feedback controllers; and robustness of multivariable control systems.
S.R. Hall

16.32 Principles of Optimal Control and Estimation
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 16.31
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (33-419) +final
______
Fundamentals of optimal control and estimation for discrete and continuous systems. Briefly reviews constrained function minimization and stochastic processes. Topics in optimal control theory include dynamic programming, variational calculus, Pontryagin's maximum principle, and numerical algorithms and software. Topics in estimation include least-squares estimation, and the Kalman filter and its extensions for estimating the states of dynamic systems. May include an individual term project.
S.R. Hall
No textbook information available

16.332 Formal Methods for Safe Autonomous Systems
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers formal methods for designing and analyzing autonomous systems. Focuses on both classical and state-of-the-art rigorous methods for specifying, modeling, verifying, and synthesizing various behaviors for systems where embedded computing units monitor and control physical processes. Additionally, covers advanced material on combining formal methods with control theory and machine learning theory for modern safety critical autonomous systems powered by AI techniques such as robots, self-driving cars, and drones. Strong emphasis on the use of various mathematical and software tools to provide safety, soundness, and completeness guarantees for system models with different levels of fidelity.
C. Fan

16.338[J] Dynamic Systems and Control
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.7100[J])
Prereq: 6.3000 and 18.06
Units: 4-0-8
______
Linear, discrete- and continuous-time, multi-input-output systems in control, related areas. Least squares and matrix perturbation problems. State-space models, modes, stability, controllability, observability, transfer function matrices, poles and zeros, and minimality. Internal stability of interconnected systems, feedback compensators, state feedback, optimal regulation, observers, and observer-based compensators. Measures of control performance, robustness issues using singular values of transfer functions. Introductory ideas on nonlinear systems. Recommended prerequisite: 6.3100.
Staff

16.343 Spacecraft and Aircraft Sensors and Instrumentation
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (33-419)
______
Covers fundamental sensor and instrumentation principles in the context of systems designed for space or atmospheric flight. Systems discussed include basic measurement system for force, temperature, pressure; navigation systems (Global Positioning System, Inertial Reference Systems, radio navigation), air data systems, communication systems; spacecraft attitude determination by stellar, solar, and horizon sensing; remote sensing by incoherent and Doppler radar, radiometry, spectrometry, and interferometry. Also included is a review of basic electromagnetic theory and antenna design and discussion of design considerations for flight. Alternate years.
K. Cahoy
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

16.346 Astrodynamics
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (33-419)
______
Fundamentals of astrodynamics; the two-body orbital initial-value and boundary-value problems with applications to space vehicle navigation and guidance for lunar and planetary missions with applications to space vehicle navigation and guidance for lunar and planetary missions including both powered flight and midcourse maneuvers. Topics include celestial mechanics, Kepler's problem, Lambert's problem, orbit determination, multi-body methods, mission planning, and recursive algorithms for space navigation. Selected applications from the Apollo, Space Shuttle, and Mars exploration programs.
R. Linares
No textbook information available

16.35 Real-Time Systems and Software
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 1.00 or 6.100B
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (33-319)
______
Concepts, principles, and methods for specifying and designing real-time computer systems. Topics include concurrency, real-time execution implementation, scheduling, testing, verification, real-time analysis, and software engineering concepts. Additional topics include operating system architecture, process management, and networking.
D. A. Mindell
No textbook information available

16.355[J] Concepts in the Engineering of Software
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as IDS.341[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: F9-12 (33-422)
______
Reading and discussion on issues in the engineering of software systems and software development project design. Includes the present state of software engineering, what has been tried in the past, what worked, what did not, and why. Topics may differ in each offering, but are chosen from the software process and life cycle; requirements and specifications; design principles; testing, formal analysis, and reviews; quality management and assessment; product and process metrics; COTS and reuse; evolution and maintenance; team organization and people management; and software engineering aspects of programming languages.  Enrollment may be limited.
N. G. Leveson
No required or recommended textbooks

16.36 Communication Systems and Networks
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 16.363)
Prereq: (6.3000 or 16.002) and (6.3700 or 16.09)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (33-419) Lab: TBA
______
Introduces the fundamentals of digital communications and networking. Topics include elements of information theory, sampling and quantization, coding, modulation, signal detection and system performance in the presence of noise. Study of data networking includes multiple access, reliable packet transmission, routing and protocols of the internet. Concepts discussed in the context of aerospace communication systems: aircraft communications, satellite communications, and deep space communications. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. H. Modiano
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

16.363 Communication Systems and Networks
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 16.36)
Prereq: (6.3000 or 16.004) and (6.3700 or 16.09)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (33-419) Lab: TBA
______
Introduces the fundamentals of digital communications and networking, focusing on the study of networks, including protocols, performance analysis, and queuing theory. Topics include elements of information theory, sampling and quantization, coding, modulation, signal detection and system performance in the presence of noise. Study of data networking includes multiple access, reliable packet transmission, routing and protocols of the internet. Concepts discussed in the context of aerospace communication systems: aircraft communications, satellite communications, and deep space communications. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. H. Modiano
No textbook information available

16.37[J] Data-Communication Networks
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.7450[J])
Prereq: 6.3700 or 18.204
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to data networks with an analytic perspective, using wireless networks, satellite networks, optical networks, the internet and data centers as primary applications. Presents basic tools for modeling and performance analysis. Draws upon concepts from stochastic processes, queuing theory, and optimization.
E. Modiano

16.391 Statistics for Engineers and Scientists
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), 18.06, 6.431, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Rigorous introduction to fundamentals of statistics motivated by engineering applications. Topics include exponential families, order statistics, sufficient statistics, estimation theory, hypothesis testing, measures of performance, notions of optimality, analysis of variance (ANOVA), simple linear regression, and selected topics.
M. Win

16.393 Statistical Communication and Localization Theory
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: M EVE (3-6 PM) (26-314)
______
Rigorous introduction to statistical communication and localization theory, covering essential topics such as modulation and demodulation of signals, derivation of optimal receivers, characterization of wireless channels, and devising of ranging and localization techniques. Applies decision theory, estimation theory, and modulation theory to the design and analysis of modern communication and localization systems exploring synchronization, diversity, and cooperation. Selected topics will be discussed according to time schedule and class interest.
M. Z. Win
No textbook information available

16.395 Principles of Wide Bandwidth Communication
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 6.3010, 16.36, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to the principles of wide bandwidth wireless communication, with a focus on ultra-wide bandwidth (UWB) systems. Topics include the basics of spread-spectrum systems, impulse radio, Rake reception, transmitted reference signaling, spectral analysis, coexistence issues, signal acquisition, channel measurement and modeling, regulatory issues, and ranging, localization and GPS. Consists of lectures and technical presentations by students.
M. Z. Win

Humans and Automation

16.400 Human Systems Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 16.453[J], HST.518[J])
Prereq: 6.3700, 16.09, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a fundamental understanding of human factors that must be taken into account in the design and engineering of complex aviation, space, and medical systems. Focuses primarily on derivation of human engineering design criteria from sensory, motor, and cognitive sources. Includes principles of displays, controls and ergonomics, manual control, the nature of human error, basic experimental design, and human-computer interaction in supervisory control settings. Students taking graduate version complete a research project with a final written report and oral presentation.
A.M. Liu

16.401 Topics in Communication and Software
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of department
Units arranged
______
Provides credit for undergraduate-level work in communications and/or software outside of regularly scheduled subjects. Intended for transfer credit and study abroad. Credit may be used to satisfy specific degree requirements in the Course 16 program. Requires prior approval. Consult M. A. Stuppard.
Fall: D.L. Darmofal
IAP: D.L. Darmofal
Spring: D.L. Darmofal

16.405[J] Robotics: Science and Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring) Institute Lab
(Same subject as 2.124[J], 6.4200[J])
Prereq: ((1.00 or 6.100A) and (2.003, 6.1010, 6.1210, or 16.06)) or permission of instructor
Units: 2-6-4
Lecture: MWF1 (26-100) Lab: MW3-5 (32-082)
______
Presents concepts, principles, and algorithmic foundations for robots and autonomous vehicles operating in the physical world. Topics include sensing, kinematics and dynamics, state estimation, computer vision, perception, learning, control, motion planning, and embedded system development. Students design and implement advanced algorithms on complex robotic platforms capable of agile autonomous navigation and real-time interaction with the physical word. Students engage in extensive written and oral communication exercises. Enrollment limited.
L. Carlone
No textbook information available

16.410[J] Principles of Autonomy and Decision Making
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.4130[J])
(Subject meets with 6.4132[J], 16.413[J])
Prereq: 6.100B, 6.1010, 6.9080, or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Surveys decision making methods used to create highly autonomous systems and decision aids. Applies models, principles and algorithms taken from artificial intelligence and operations research. Focuses on planning as state-space search, including uninformed, informed and stochastic search, activity and motion planning, probabilistic and adversarial planning, Markov models and decision processes, and Bayesian filtering. Also emphasizes planning with real-world constraints using constraint programming. Includes methods for satisfiability and optimization of logical, temporal and finite domain constraints, graphical models, and linear and integer programs, as well as methods for search, inference, and conflict-learning. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
N. Roy, A. Bobu

16.412[J] Cognitive Robotics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.8110[J])
Prereq: (6.4100 or 16.413) and (6.1200, 6.3700, or 16.09)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Highlights algorithms and paradigms for creating human-robot systems that act intelligently and robustly, by reasoning from models of themselves, their counterparts and their world. Examples include space and undersea explorers, cooperative vehicles, manufacturing robot teams and everyday embedded devices. Themes include architectures for goal-directed systems; decision-theoretic programming and robust execution; state-space programming, activity and path planning; risk-bounded programming and risk-bounded planners; self-monitoring and self-diagnosing systems, and human-robot collaboration. Student teams explore recent advances in cognitive robots through delivery of advanced lectures and final projects, in support of a class-wide grand challenge. Enrollment may be limited.
B.C. Williams

16.413[J] Principles of Autonomy and Decision Making
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.4132[J])
(Subject meets with 6.4130[J], 16.410[J])
Prereq: 6.100B, 6.9080, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys decision making methods used to create highly autonomous systems and decision aids. Applies models, principles and algorithms taken from artificial intelligence and operations research. Focuses on planning as state-space search, including uninformed, informed and stochastic search, activity and motion planning, probabilistic and adversarial planning, Markov models and decision processes, and Bayesian filtering. Also emphasizes planning with real-world constraints using constraint programming. Includes methods for satisfiability and optimization of logical, temporal and finite domain constraints, graphical models, and linear and integer programs, as well as methods for search, inference, and conflict-learning. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
N. Roy, A. Babu

16.420 Planning Under Uncertainty
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 6.4110)
Prereq: 16.413
Units: 3-0-9
______
Concepts, principles, and methods for planning with imperfect knowledge. Topics include state estimation, planning in information space, partially observable Markov decision processes, reinforcement learning and planning with uncertain models. Students will develop an understanding of how different planning algorithms and solutions techniques are useful in different problem domains. Previous coursework in artificial intelligence and state estimation strongly recommended.
N. Roy, L. P. Kaelbling, T. Lozano-Perez

16.422 Human Supervisory Control of Automated Systems
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
______
Principles of supervisory control and telerobotics. Different levels of automation are discussed, as well as the allocation of roles and authority between humans and machines. Human-vehicle interface design in highly automated systems. Decision aiding. Trade-offs between human control and human monitoring. Automated alerting systems and human intervention in automatic operation. Enhanced human interface technologies such as virtual presence. Performance, optimization, and social implications of the human-automation system. Examples from aerospace, ground, and undersea vehicles, robotics, and industrial systems.
J.A. Shah, B.D. Armstrong

16.423[J] Aerospace Biomedical and Life Support Engineering
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as HST.515[J], IDS.337[J])
Prereq: 16.06, 16.400, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Fundamentals of human performance, physiology, and life support impacting engineering design and aerospace systems. Topics include effects of gravity on the muscle, skeletal, cardiovascular, and neurovestibular systems; human/pilot modeling and human/machine design; flight experiment design; and life support engineering for extravehicular activity (EVA). Case studies of current research are presented. Assignments include a design project, quantitative homework sets, and quizzes emphasizing engineering and systems aspects.
L. Petersen

16.426[J] Quantitative and Clinical Physiology
(New)
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.796[J], 6.4822[J])
(Subject meets with 2.792[J], 6.4820[J], HST.542[J])
Prereq: 6.4810 and (2.006 or 6.2300)
Units: 4-2-6
______
Application of the principles of energy and mass flow to major human organ systems. Anatomical, physiological and clinical features of the cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems. Mechanisms of regulation and homeostasis. Systems, features and devices that are most illuminated by the methods of physical sciences and engineering models. Required laboratory work includes animal studies. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
T. Heldt, R. G. Mark, L. G. Petersen

16.445[J] Entrepreneurship in Aerospace and Mobility Systems
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as STS.468[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Examines concepts and procedures for new venture creation in aerospace and mobility systems, and other arenas where safety, regulation, and infrastructure are significant components. Includes space systems, aviation, autonomous vehicles, urban aerial mobility, transit, and similar arenas. Includes preparation for entrepreneurship, founders' dilemmas, venture finance, financial modeling and unit economics, fundraising and pitching, recruiting, problem definition, organizational creation, value proposition, go-to-market, and product development. Includes team-based final projects on problem definition, technical innovation, and pitch preparation.
D. A. Mindell

16.453[J] Human Systems Engineering
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as HST.518[J])
(Subject meets with 16.400)
Prereq: 6.3700, 16.09, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a fundamental understanding of human factors that must be taken into account in the design and engineering of complex aviation, space, and medical systems. Focuses primarily on derivation of human engineering design criteria from sensory, motor, and cognitive sources. Includes principles of displays, controls and ergonomics, manual control, the nature of human error, basic experimental design, and human-computer interaction in supervisory control settings. Students taking graduate version complete a research project with a final written report and oral presentation.
A.M. Liu

16.456[J] Biomedical Signal and Image Processing
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.8800[J], HST.582[J])
(Subject meets with 6.8801[J], HST.482[J])
Prereq: (6.3700 and (2.004, 6.3000, 16.002, or 18.085)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
Lecture: TR9-10.30 (E25-117) Lab: F9 (34-301) or F10 (34-301)
______
Fundamentals of digital signal processing with emphasis on problems in biomedical research and clinical medicine. Basic principles and algorithms for processing both deterministic and random signals. Topics include data acquisition, imaging, filtering, coding, feature extraction, and modeling. Lab projects, performed in MATLAB, provide practical experience in processing physiological data, with examples from cardiology, speech processing, and medical imaging. Lectures cover signal processing topics relevant to the lab exercises, as well as background on the biological signals processed in the labs. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Alam
No required or recommended textbooks

16.459 Bioengineering Journal Article Seminar
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-1
Lecture: W2.30 (31-270)
______
Each term, the class selects a new set of professional journal articles on bioengineering topics of current research interest. Some papers are chosen because of particular content, others are selected because they illustrate important points of methodology. Each week, one student leads the discussion, evaluating the strengths, weaknesses, and importance of each paper. Subject may be repeated for credit a maximum of four terms. Letter grade given in the last term applies to all accumulated units of 16.459.
Fall: C. Oman, M. Lin, A. Liu
Spring: Staff
No textbook information available

16.470 Statistical Methods in Experimental Design
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 6.3700, 16.09, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (36-112)
______
Statistically based experimental design inclusive of forming hypotheses, planning and conducting experiments, analyzing data, and interpreting and communicating results. Topics include descriptive statistics, statistical inference, hypothesis testing, parametric and nonparametric statistical analyses, factorial ANOVA, randomized block designs, MANOVA, linear regression, repeated measures models, and application of statistical software packages.
A. M. Liu
No textbook information available

16.475 Human-Computer Interface Design Colloquium
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-2
______
Provides guidance on design and evaluation of human-computer interfaces for students with active research projects. Roundtable discussion on developing user requirements, human-centered design principles, and testing and evaluating methodologies. Students present their work and evaluate each other's projects. Readings complement specific focus areas. Team participation encouraged. Open to advanced undergraduates.
Staff

16.485 Visual Navigation for Autonomous Vehicles
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 16.32 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-2-7
______
Covers the mathematical foundations and state-of-the-art implementations of algorithms for vision-based navigation of autonomous vehicles (e.g., mobile robots, self-driving cars, drones). Topics include geometric control, 3D vision, visual-inertial navigation, place recognition, and simultaneous localization and mapping. Provides students with a rigorous but pragmatic overview of differential geometry and optimization on manifolds and knowledge of the fundamentals of 2-view and multi-view geometric vision for real-time motion estimation, calibration, localization, and mapping. The theoretical foundations are complemented with hands-on labs based on state-of-the-art mini race car and drone platforms. Culminates in a critical review of recent advances in the field and a team project aimed at advancing the state-of-the-art.
L. Carlone

Propulsion and Energy Conversion

16.50 Aerospace Propulsion
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 16.003 and (2.005 or 16.004)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2-3.30 (31-270) +final
______
Presents aerospace propulsive devices as systems, with functional requirements and engineering and environmental limitations. Requirements and limitations that constrain design choices. Both air-breathing and rocket engines covered, at a level which enables rational integration of the propulsive system into an overall vehicle design. Mission analysis, fundamental performance relations, and exemplary design solutions presented.
C. Guerra Garcia, P. Prashanth, J. Sabnis
No textbook information available

16.501 Topics in Propulsion
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of department
Units arranged
______
Provides credit for work on undergraduate-level material in propulsion outside of regularly scheduled subjects. Intended for transfer credit and study abroad. Credit may be used to satisfy specific degree requirements in the Course 16 and Course 16-ENG programs. Requires prior approval. Consult department.
Fall: D.L. Darmofal
IAP: D.L. Darmofal
Spring: D.L. Darmofal

16.511 Aircraft Engines and Gas Turbines
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 16.50 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Performance and characteristics of aircraft jet engines and industrial gas turbines, as determined by thermodynamic and fluid mechanic behavior of engine components: inlets, compressors, combustors, turbines, and nozzles. Discusses various engine types, including advanced turbofan configurations, limitations imposed by material properties and stresses. Emphasizes future design trends including reduction of noise, pollutant formation, fuel consumption, and weight.
Z. S. Spakovszky

16.512 Rocket Propulsion
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 16.50 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Chemical rocket propulsion systems for launch, orbital, and interplanetary flight. Modeling of solid, liquid-bipropellant, and hybrid rocket engines. Thermochemistry, prediction of specific impulse. Nozzle flows including real gas and kinetic effects. Structural constraints. Propellant feed systems, turbopumps. Combustion processes in solid, liquid, and hybrid rockets. Cooling; heat sink, ablative, and regenerative.
P.C. Lozano, J. Sabnis

16.522 Space Propulsion
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 8.02 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: TR3-4.30 (33-418)
______
Reviews rocket propulsion fundamentals. Discusses advanced concepts in space propulsion with emphasis on high-specific impulse electric engines. Topics include advanced mission analysis; the physics and engineering of electrothermal, electrostatic, and electromagnetic schemes for accelerating propellant; and orbital mechanics for the analysis of continuous thrust trajectories. Laboratory term project emphasizes the design, construction, and testing of an electric propulsion thruster.
P.C. Lozano
No textbook information available

16.530 Advanced Propulsion Concepts
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 16.50, 16.511, 16.512, or 16.522
Units: 3-0-9
______
Considers the challenge of achieving net-zero climate impacts, as well as the opportunities presented by the resurgence of investment in new or renewed ideas. Explores advanced propulsion concepts that are not in use or well-developed, but that have established operation principles and could either contribute to environmental performance or are applicable to new aerospace services. Topics vary but may include: electric and turbo-electric aircraft propulsion; batteries, cryogenic fuels, and biofuels; combustion and emissions control concepts; propulsion for UAVs and urban air mobility; propulsion for supersonic and hypersonic vehicles; reusable space access vehicle propulsion; and propulsion in very low earth orbit. Includes a project to evaluate an advanced propulsion concept.
J.J. Sabnis, Z.S. Spakovszky

16.540 Internal Flows in Turbomachines
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 2.25 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Internal fluid motions in turbomachines, propulsion systems, ducts and channels, and other fluid machinery. Useful basic ideas, fundamentals of rotational flows, loss sources and loss accounting in fluid devices, unsteady internal flow and flow instability, flow in rotating passages, swirling flow, generation of streamwise vorticity and three-dimensional flow, non-uniform flow in fluid components.
Staff

16.55[J] Ionized Gases
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 22.64[J])
Prereq: 8.02 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Properties and behavior of low-temperature plasmas for energy conversion, plasma propulsion, and gas lasers. Equilibrium of ionized gases: energy states, statistical mechanics, and relationship to thermodynamics. Kinetic theory: motion of charged particles, distribution function, collisions, characteristic lengths and times, cross sections, and transport properties. Gas surface interactions: thermionic emission, sheaths, and probe theory. Radiation in plasmas and diagnostics.
Staff

Other Undergraduate Subjects

16.00 Introduction to Aerospace and Design
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-2-2
______
Highlights fundamental concepts and practices of aerospace engineering through lectures on aeronautics, astronautics, and the principles of project design and execution. Provides training in the use of Course 16 workshop tools and 3-D printers, and in computational tools, such as CAD. Students engage in teambuilding during an immersive, semester-long project in which teams design, build, and fly radio-controlled lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicles. Emphasizes connections between theory and practice and introduces students to fundamental systems engineering practices, such as oral and written design reviews, performance estimation, and post-flight performance analysis.
J. A. Hoffman, R. J. Hansman

16.UR Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in aeronautics and astronautics.
Fall: Consult M. A. Stuppard
IAP: M. Stuppard
Spring: M. Stuppard
Textbooks arranged individually

16.C25[J] Real World Computation with Julia
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.C25[J], 6.C25[J], 12.C25[J], 18.C25[J], 22.C25[J])
Prereq: 6.100A, 18.03, and 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on algorithms and techniques for writing and using modern technical software in a job, lab, or research group environment that may consist of interdisciplinary teams, where performance may be critical, and where the software needs to be flexible and adaptable. Topics include automatic differentiation, matrix calculus, scientific machine learning, parallel and GPU computing, and performance optimization with introductory applications to climate science, economics, agent-based modeling, and other areas. Labs and projects focus on performant, readable, composable algorithms, and software. Programming will be in Julia. Expects students to have some familiarity with Python, Matlab, or R. No Julia experience necessary.
A. Edelman, R. Ferrari, B. Forget, C. Leiseron,Y. Marzouk, J. Williams

16.EPE UPOP Engineering Practice Experience
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.EPE, 2.EPE, 3.EPE, 6.EPE, 8.EPE, 10.EPE, 15.EPE, 16.EPE, 20.EPE, 22.EPE)
Prereq: None
Units: 0-0-1 [P/D/F]
Lab: M11 (3-333) or M1 (1-390) or T1 (3-333) or F11 (3-333) or F1 (3-333)
______
Provides students with skills to prepare for and excel in the world of industry. Emphasizes practical application of career theory and professional development concepts. Introduces students to relevant and timely resources for career development, provides students with tools to embark on a successful internship search, and offers networking opportunities with employers and MIT alumni. Students work in groups, led by industry mentors, to improve their resumes and cover letters, interviewing skills, networking abilities, project management, and ability to give and receive feedback. Objective is for students to be able to adapt and contribute effectively to their future employment organizations. A total of two units of credit is awarded for completion of the fall and subsequent spring term offerings. Application required; consult UPOP website for more information.
Fall: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
IAP: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
Spring: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
No textbook information available

16.EPW UPOP Engineering Practice Workshop
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring)
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.EPW, 2.EPW, 3.EPW, 6.EPW, 10.EPW, 16.EPW, 20.EPW, 22.EPW)
Prereq: 2.EPE
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
Lab: TBA
______
Provides sophomores across all majors with opportunities to develop and practice communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to become successful professionals in the workplace, particularly in preparation for their summer industry internship. This immersive, multi-day Team Training Workshop (TTW) is comprised of experiential learning modules focused on expanding skills in areas that employers report being most valuable in the workplace. Modules are led by MIT faculty with the help of MIT alumni and other senior industry professionals. Skills applied through creative simulations, team problem-solving challenges, oral presentations, and networking sessions with prospective employers. Enrollment limited to those in the UPOP program.
Fall: M. Vazquez Sanchez, T. DeRoche
IAP: M.Vazquez Sanchez, T.DeRoche
Spring: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
No textbook information available

16.S090 Special Subject in Aeronautics and Astronautics
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: MWF10 (2-142)
______
Organized lecture or laboratory subject consisting of material not available in regularly scheduled subjects.
Q. Wang, S. Johnson
No textbook information available

16.S091 Special Subject in Aeronautics and Astronautics
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MWF10 (1-134)
______
Organized lecture or laboratory subject consisting of material not available in regularly scheduled subjects. 
Q. Wang
No textbook information available

16.S092 Special Subject in Aeronautics and Astronautics
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MWF10 (2-147)
______
Organized lecture or laboratory subject consisting of material not available in regularly scheduled subjects. 
S. Johnson
No textbook information available

16.S093 Special Subject in Aeronautics and Astronautics
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MWF11 (2-143)
______
Organized lecture or laboratory subject consisting of material not available in regularly scheduled subjects.
A. Edelman
No textbook information available

16.S684 Special Subject in Aeronautics and Astronautics
______

Undergrad (IAP) Can be repeated for credit; partial term
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Opportunity for study or lab work related to aeronautics and astronautics not covered in regularly scheduled subjects. Subject to approval of faculty in charge. Prior approval required.
O. de Weck, L. Carlone, R. Levi
No textbook information available

16.S685 Special Subject in Aeronautics and Astronautics
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit; first half of term
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Basic undergraduate topics not offered in regularly scheduled subjects. Subject to approval of faculty in charge. Prior approval required.
M. Paluszek
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

16.S686 Special Subject in Aeronautics and Astronautics
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Opportunity for study or lab work related to aeronautics and astronautics not covered in regularly scheduled subjects. Subject to approval of faculty in charge. Prior approval required.
Staff

16.S688 Special Subject in Aeronautics and Astronautics
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Opportunity for study or lab work related to aeronautics and astronautics but not covered in regularly scheduled subjects. Prior approval required.
Consult M. A. Stuppard


left arrow | 16.00-16.599 plus UROP and EP | 16.60-16.999 plus THG | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 17: Political Science
IAP/Spring 2025


Political Philosophy/Social Theory

17.000[J] Political Philosophy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 24.611[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Systematic examination of selected issues in political philosophy. Topic changes each year and subject may be taken repeatedly with permission of instructor.
Staff

17.006[J] Feminist Thought
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Same subject as 24.637[J])
(Subject meets with 17.007[J], 24.137[J], WGS.301[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor, based on previous coursework
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (66-156)
______
Analyzes theories of gender and politics, especially ideologies of gender and their construction; definitions of public and private spheres; gender issues in citizenship, the development of the welfare state, experiences of war and revolution, class formation, and the politics of sexuality. Graduate students are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
S. Haslanger
No textbook information available

17.007[J] Feminist Thought
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 24.137[J], WGS.301[J])
(Subject meets with 17.006[J], 24.637[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (66-156)
______
Analyzes theories of gender and politics, especially ideologies of gender and their construction; definitions of public and private spheres; gender issues in citizenship, the development of the welfare state, experiences of war and revolution, class formation, and the politics of sexuality. Graduate students are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
Fall: Arain, Hafsa
Spring: Arain, Hafsa
No required or recommended textbooks

17.01[J] Justice
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 24.04[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to contemporary political thought centered around the ideal of justice and the realities of injustice. Examines what a just society might look like and how we should understand various forms of oppression and domination. Studies three theories of justice (utilitarianism, libertarianism, and egalitarian liberalism) and brings them into conversation with other traditions of political thought (critical theory, communitarianism, republicanism, and post-structuralism). Readings cover foundational debates about equality, freedom, recognition, and power.
B. Zacka

17.021[J] Philosophy of Law
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 24.235[J])
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines fundamental issues in philosophy of law, such as the nature and limits of law and a legal system, and the relation of law to morality, with particular emphasis on the philosophical issues and problems associated with privacy, liberty, justice, punishment, and responsibility. Historical and contemporary readings, including court cases. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
Staff

17.03 Introduction to Political Thought
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines major texts in the history of political thought and considers how they contribute to a broader conversation about freedom, equality, democracy, rights, and the role of politics in human life. Areas covered may include ancient, modern, contemporary, or American political thought.
K. Hoss

17.031 American Political Thought
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines political thought from the American colonial period through the 20th century. Considers the influences that gave rise to American political ideas and the implication of those ideas in a modern context, with particular emphasis on issues of liberty, equality, and the role of values from a liberal democratic lens.
K. Hoss

17.035[J] Libertarianism
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.181[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the history of the ideal of individual liberty in light of contemporary arguments over the proper scope of the regulatory state. Surveys the political theory of freedom and its relationship to other dominant norms (e.g., property, equality, community, republicanism, innovation, and the pursuit of wealth). Revisits the diversity of modern libertarian movements with attention to issues such as abolitionism and the Civil Rights revolution, religious liberty, the right to bear arms, and LGBTQ rights. Concludes with a set of policy and legal/constitutional debates about the role of government in regulating the financial markets, artificial intelligence, and/or the internet.
M. Ghachem

17.04[J] Modern Conceptions of Freedom
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as CC.111[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3-4.30 (16-160)
______
Students read early modern political theorists, and trace the growth of the value of freedom. Examines the modern definition of freedom, and the obligations that people accept in honoring it. Also investigates how these obligations are captured in the principles of our political association. Studies how the centrality of freedom plays out in the political thought of such authors as Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke and Montesquieu. Students also debate which notions of freedom inspire and sustain the American experiment by carefully reading the documents and arguments of the founding of the United States. Preference to students in Concourse.
L. Rabieh
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

17.043[J] Liberalism, Toleration, and Freedom of Speech
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 24.150[J], CMS.125[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines theories and principles that underlie the concept of free speech in the United States, the historical context in which the values of free speech and toleration emerged, and the philosophical arguments that were and are made for and against them. Students analyze a variety of contexts and communicative practices, including new media technologies, to debate how "speech" can be described and when it should be appropriately regulated. Considers current disputes over free speech on college campuses.
A. Byrne, B. Skow

17.045[J] Power: Interpersonal, Organizational, and Global Dimensions
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 11.045[J], 15.302[J], 21A.127[J])
(Subject meets with 21A.129)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
The study of power among individuals and within organizations, markets, and states. Using examples from anthropology and sociology alongside classical and contemporary social theory, explores the nature of dominant and subordinate relationships, types of legitimate authority, and practices of resistance. Examines how people are influenced in subtle ways by those around them, who makes controlling decisions in the family, how people get ahead at work, and whether democracies, in fact, reflect the will of the people. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Silbey

17.05[J] Humane Warfare: Ancient and Medieval Perspectives on Ethics in War
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as CC.117[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores questions of justice and ethics in war by focusing on primary texts of pre-modern works of history, philosophy, literature, and Biblical interpretation. Readings from antiquity include Thucydides, Aristophanes, and Cicero. Examination of the Biblical tradition of just war, itself informed by the classical tradition, includes readings from early and Medieval Christian and Islamic thinkers and proceeds through the early Renaissance, with the beginning of a formalized doctrine of just war theory. Readings about current ethical dilemmas of war are discussed throughout and are given sustained attention at the end of the term. Preference to Concourse students.
L. Rabieh

17.055 Just Code: The Ethical Lifecycle of Machine Learning
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the moral and political questions that arise at each step of the development of a machine learning system: from problem definition and data collection, to model selection and training, evaluation, interface design, deployment, and use. Brings work in STS, sociology, anthropology, and political science into conversation with perennial concerns in political theory about power, authority, legitimacy, justice, liberty, and equality. Considers the political agency of technology. Limited to 18; preference to juniors and seniors.
B. Zacka

Political Economy

17.100 Field Seminar in Political Economy
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines broad range of topics — such as social classes, states, interest groups, inequality welfare states, comparative capitalism, race, and gender — from both classical (Marx and Weber) and contemporary theorists. Limited to 12; preference to Course 17 PhD students.
B. Schneider

17.115 International Political Economy
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to the politics of international economic relations, including a range of analytical "lenses" to view the global economy. Examines the politics of trade policy, international monetary and financial relations, financial crises, foreign direct investment, third-world development and transition economies, the debate over "globalization," and international financial crime.
D. Singer

17.150 The American Political Economy in Comparative Perspective
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: R10-12 (E53-485)
______
Examines the origins and impact of key features of the American political economy in comparative perspective. Considers a range of political-economic topics, including labor markets, finance, taxation, social policy, and the role of money and organized interests. Highlights the distinctive aspects of American political economy in terms of both institutional structure and substantive outcomes (such as poverty and inequality) by comparing the US with other nations, particularly other rich democracies.
K. Thelen, D. Caughey
No textbook information available

17.154 Varieties of Capitalism and Social Inequality
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on the advanced democracies of Europe, the United States, and Japan. Explores trajectories of change that bear on issues of economic and social inequality. Examines whether contemporary trends (globalization, deindustrialization) undermine institutional arrangements that once reconciled economic efficiency with high levels of social equality. Considers the extent to which existing theoretical frameworks capture cross-national variation in the dynamics of redistribution in these societies.
K. Thelen, P. Hall

17.156 Welfare and Capitalism in Western Europe
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Considers theoretical models that attempt to capture the distinct paradigms of capitalism and welfare regimes prevalent in Western European economies. Analyzes content and processes of contemporary changes in the political economy and social policy - from a broad view of the challenges, to closer inquiry into specific reforms. Includes a theoretical discussion of how change occurs and trajectories of development.
K. Thelen

17.174 Historical Political Economy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys recent work in historical political economy, a field that combines a historical perspective with statistical methods for causal inference or formal theory. Topics include the origins of democratic and authoritarian institutions, long-run economic development, colonial legacies, state building, and intergenerational transmission of political attitudes and behavior. Readings drawn from different political science subfields, economics, and history. Intended as a research seminar for PhD students.
V. Charnysh

17.178 Political Economy of Institutions and Development
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W1.30-3.30 (E53-438)
______
Explores institutional diversity in capitalist development, both historical and contemporary, and various explanations (e.g. economic, institutional, sociological, and political) for the divergent economic organization. Examines dimensions of comparison, including issues in business-government relations, labor relations, vocational training, and multinational corporations. Also considers global production networks, natural resource dependence, diversified business groups, industrial policy, and globalization.
B. Schneider
No required or recommended textbooks

17.181 Sustainability: Political Economy, Science, and Policy
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 17.182)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines alternative conceptions and theoretical underpinnings of sustainable development. Focuses on the sustainability problems of industrial countries, and of developing states and economies in transition. Explores the sociology of knowledge regarding sustainability, the economic and technological dimensions, and institutional imperatives. Considers implications for political constitution of economic performance. 17.181 fulfills undergraduate public policy requirement in the major and minor. Graduate students are expected to explore the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
N. Choucri

17.182 Sustainability: Political Economy, Science, and Policy
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 17.181)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines alternative conceptions and theoretical underpinnings of sustainable development. Focuses on the sustainability problems of industrial countries, and of developing states and economies in transition. Explores the sociology of knowledge regarding sustainability, the economic and technological dimensions, and institutional imperatives. Considers implications for political constitution of economic performance. 17.181 fulfills undergraduate public policy requirement in the major and minor. Graduate students are expected to explore the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
N. Choucri

17.198 Current Topics in Comparative Political Economy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Analyzes and compares approaches in current political economy literatures. Weekly topics are selected by instructor and participants. Examples include the organization of interests, industrial policy, growth and inequality, resource "curse", late development. Topics vary each year depending on the research interests of the seminar participants. The subject is for graduate students in social sciences with previous coursework in political economy.
K. Thelen

American Politics

17.20 Introduction to the American Political Process
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a substantive overview of US politics and an introduction to the discipline of political science. Surveys the institutional foundations of US politics as well as the activities of political elites, organizations, and ordinary citizens. Explores the application of general political science concepts and analytic frameworks to specific episodes and phenomena in US politics. Enrollment limited.
D. Caughey

17.200 American Political Behavior I
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Analyzes mass political behavior within the American political system. Examines political ideology, party identification, public opinion, voting behavior, media effects, racial attitudes, mass-elite relations, and opinion-policy linkages. Surveys and critiques the major theoretical approaches and empirical research in the field of political behavior.
A. Campbell

17.202 American Political Institutions
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W EVE (4-6 PM) (E53-485)
______
Analyzes the institutions of the American political system, with primary emphasis on the national level. Examines American federalism, political parties, national political institutions, and the policymaking process. Focuses on core works in contemporary American politics and public policy. Critiques both research methodologies and the explicit and implicit theoretical assumptions of such work.
D. Caughey
No required or recommended textbooks

17.210 American Political Behavior II
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 17.200
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W1-3 (E53-485)
______
Analyzes mass political behavior within the American political system. Goes beyond the topics covered in 17.200, to explore additional areas and research frontiers in political behavior. Examines recent research on political ideology, party identification, public opinion, voting behavior, media effects, racial attitudes, mass-elite relations, and opinion-policy linkages. Introduces new topics such as personality, emotion, networks, polarization, opinion on war.
A. Berinsky
No textbook information available

17.251 Congress and the American Political System I
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: 17.20 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on both the internal processes of the House and Senate and on the place of Congress in the American Political System. Attention to committee behavior, leadership patterns, and informal organization. Considers relations between Congress and other branches of government, as well as relations between the two houses of Congress itself. Students taking the graduate version are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
C. Stewart

17.262 Congress and the American Political System II
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Analyzes the development of the US Congress by focusing on the competing theoretical lenses through which legislatures have been studied. Particularly compares sociological and economic models of legislative behavior, applying those models to floor decision-making, committee behavior, political parties, relations with other branches of the Federal government, and elections. Students taking the graduate version are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
C. Stewart

17.263 Electoral Politics, Public Opinion, and Democracy
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Considers the role of elections in American politics. Issues explored include empirical and theoretical models of electoral competition, the effect of elections on public policy, and proposals to improve elections. Special emphasis is given to mass voting behavior, political parties, the media, and campaign finance. Subject focuses on US elections, but provides some contrasts with other countries, especially the United Kingdom.
C. Stewart

17.265 Public Opinion and American Democracy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces students to public opinion in politics and public policymaking. Surveys theories of political psychology and political behavior. Examines empirical research on public understanding of and attitudes towards important issues, including war, economic and social policies, and moral questions.
A. Campbell

17.269 Race, Ethnicity, and American Politics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the role of race and ethnicity in modern American politics. Focuses on social science approaches to measuring the effects of race, both at the individual level and more broadly. Topics include race and representation, measurement of racial and ethnic identities, voting rights and electoral districting, protest and other forms of political participation, and the meaning and measurement of racial attitudes.
A. White

17.270 American Political Development
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the evolution of American national political processes over time: how political culture, governing institutions, and structures of political linkage (parties and organized interests) shape political conflict and public policy. Topics include the evolution of electoral politics and the party system, eras of political reform and state expansion (Populist, Progressive, New Deal, and Great Society), major wars and their effects, and the adaptation of government institutions to crisis and complexity in society and in the economy. Open to undergraduates with permission of instructor.
D. Caughey

17.271 Mass Incarceration in the United States
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers the current state of incarceration in the United States and proposals for reform. Class materials include a mix of first-hand/media accounts of incarceration and social science literature on the causes and effects of high incarceration rates. Topics include race and the criminal legal system, collateral consequences of incarceration, public opinion about incarceration, and the behavior of recently elected "reform" prosecutors. 
A. White

17.275 Public Opinion Research Design and Training Seminar
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies the basic skills required to design, use, and interpret opinion surveys and survey experiments. Acts as both a reading subject on survey analysis and a practicum on collecting and analyzing observational and experimental survey data. Culminates in a group project involving a survey experiment on a particular topic chosen by the class and the instructor.
A. Berinsky

17.276 Public Opinion Research Training Lab
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 17.800 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Offers practical training in public opinion research and provides students with an opportunity to conduct their own survey research. As a group, students design a national sample survey and field the survey. Students analyze the survey results and examine literatures related to the content of the survey. Ideal for second and third year PhD students and advanced undergraduates, though others are welcome.
A. Berinsky

17.279 Political Misinformation in the Age of Social Media
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MWF11 (14E-310)
______
Explores the factors that make people vulnerable to political misinformation and why corrections so often fail to reduce its prevalence. Pays especially close attention to the role of social media, and the internet more generally. Analyzes how patterns of misinformation are exploited by political elites and considers possible approaches that journalists, civic groups, government officials, and technology platforms could employ to combat misperceptions.
A. Berinsky
No textbook information available

17.28[J] The War at Home: American Politics and Society in Wartime
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.213[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the relationship between war and domestic politics in the US since the start of 20th century. Students engage in historical and social scientific research to analyze the ways that overseas military commitments shaped US political institutions, and how domestic politics has in turn structured US engagements abroad. Moving chronologically from World War I to the Iraq War, subject draws on materials across the disciplines, including political documents, opinion polls, legal decisions, and products of American popular culture.
A. Berinsky, C. Capozzola

Public Policy

17.30[J] Making Public Policy
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 11.002[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Examines how the struggle among competing advocates shapes the outputs of government. Considers how conditions become problems for government to solve, why some political arguments are more persuasive than others, why some policy tools are preferred over others, and whether policies achieve their goals. Investigates the interactions among elected officials, think tanks, interest groups, the media, and the public in controversies over global warming, urban sprawl, Social Security, health care, education, and other issues.
A. Campbell

17.303[J] Methods of Policy Analysis
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 11.003[J])
Prereq: 11.002; Coreq: 14.01
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides students with an introduction to public policy analysis. Examines various approaches to policy analysis by considering the concepts, tools, and methods used in economics, political science, and other disciplines. Students apply and critique these approaches through case studies of current public policy problems.
C. Abbanat

17.307 American Public Policy for Washington Interns
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Social Sciences; partial term
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
TBA.
______
Examines US policymaking process, with special attention to making of policy for science and technology. Subject spans the second half of Spring and first half of Fall terms. Spring term attends to origins and development of American policymaking institutions and their roles in settling controversial policy questions. Fall term focuses on development of representative policies in the US, such as pollution controls, biotechnical engineering, and telecommunications. Selection and participation in Washington Summer Internship program required. Fulfills undergraduate public policy requirement in the major and minor.
Fall: C. Stewart
Spring: C. Stewart
No textbook information available

17.309[J] Science, Technology, and Public Policy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as IDS.055[J], STS.082[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 17.310, IDS.412, STS.482
______
Analysis of issues at the intersection of science, technology, public policy, and business. Cases drawn from antitrust and intellectual property rights; health and environmental policy; defense procurement and strategy; strategic trade and industrial policy; and R&D funding. Structured around theories of political economy, modified to take into account integration of uncertain technical information into public and private decision-making. Meets with 17.310 when offered concurrently.
Staff

17.310[J] Science, Technology, and Public Policy
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as IDS.412[J], STS.482[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 17.309, IDS.055, STS.082
______
Analysis of issues at the intersection of science, technology, public policy, and business. Cases drawn from antitrust and intellectual property rights; health and environmental policy; defense procurement and strategy; strategic trade and industrial policy; and R&D funding. Structured around theories of political economy, modified to take account of integration of uncertain technical information into public and private decision-making. Meets with 17.309 when offered concurrently.
N. Selin

17.315 Health Policy
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (3-370) Recitation: R EVE (7 PM) (8-205) or R EVE (8 PM) (8-205) or F9 (8-205) or F11 (8-205)
______
Analyzes the health policy problems facing America including adequate access to care, the control of health care costs, and the encouragement of medical advances. Considers market and regulatory alternatives as well as international models including Canadian, Swedish, British, and German arrangements. Emphasis on historical development, interest group behavior, public opinion, and organizational influences in shaping and implementing policy.
A. Campbell
No textbook information available

17.317 US Social Policy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Explores historical development and contemporary politics of the American welfare state. Examines interactions among political institutions, elites, the media, and the mass public. Emphasis on reciprocal relationship between policy designs and public opinion/political action. Investigates broad spectrum of government policies that shape well-being, opportunity and political influence, including welfare, social security, health care, education, and tax policy.
A. Campbell

17.320 Social Policy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the politics of social policy in comparative perspective. Empirical and theoretical overview of the origins, development, and future of social provision in industrialized countries, in the context of broader political and historical trends. Examines concepts such as social citizenship, risk sharing, de-commodification, and welfare regimes, and the challenges of globalization, neo-liberalism, and demographic change. Topics include pensions, health care, poverty alleviation, and family policy. Combines classic work and research frontiers.
A. Campbell

17.381[J] Leadership in Negotiation: Advanced Applications
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 11.111[J])
Prereq: 11.011 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Building on the skills and strategies honed in 11.011, explores advanced negotiation practice. Emphasizes an experiential skill-building approach, underpinned by cutting-edge cases and innovative research. Examines applications in high-stakes management, public policy, social entrepreneurship, international diplomacy, and scientific discovery. Strengthens collaborative decision-making, persuasion, and leadership skills by negotiating across different media and through personalized coaching, enhancing students' ability to proactively engage stakeholders, transform organizations, and inspire communities. Limited by lottery; consult class website for information and deadlines.
B. Verdini Trejo

17.389 Education, Inequality, and Politics
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: R3-5 (1-375) Recitation: F12 (1-150)
______
With a focus on the United States, Europe, and Latin America, discusses how education around the world profoundly affects individual economic mobility, social inequality, and national development, making it a high stakes policy area. Analyzes the contentiousness of education policy as government reformers, parents, business, NGOs, teacher unions, and other stakeholders vie for influence.
B. Schneider
No required or recommended textbooks

17.391[J] Human Rights at Home and Abroad
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 11.164[J])
(Subject meets with 11.497)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-10
______
Provides a rigorous and critical introduction to the history, foundation, structure, and operation of the human rights movement. Focuses on key ideas, actors, methods and sources, and critically evaluates the field. Addresses current debates in human rights, including the relationship with security, democracy, development and globalization, urbanization, equality (in housing and other economic and social rights; women's rights; ethnic, religious and racial discrimination; and policing/conflict), post-conflict rebuilding and transitional justice, and technology in human rights activism. No prior coursework needed, but work experience, or community service that demonstrates familiarity with global affairs or engagement with ethics and social justice issues, preferred. Students taking graduate version are expected to write a research paper.
B. Rajagopal

17.393[J] Environmental Law, Policy, and Economics: Pollution Prevention and Control
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 1.801[J], 11.021[J], IDS.060[J])
(Subject meets with 1.811[J], 11.630[J], 15.663[J], IDS.540[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (E51-057) +final
______
Analyzes federal and state regulation of air and water pollution, hazardous waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and production/use of toxic chemicals. Analyzes pollution/climate change as economic problems and failure of markets. Explores the role of science and economics in legal decisions. Emphasizes use of legal mechanisms and alternative approaches (i.e., economic incentives, voluntary approaches) to control pollution and encourage chemical accident and pollution prevention. Focuses on major federal legislation, underlying administrative system, and common law in analyzing environmental policy, economic consequences, and role of the courts. Discusses classical pollutants and toxic industrial chemicals, greenhouse gas emissions, community right-to-know, and environmental justice. Develops basic legal skills: how to read/understand cases, regulations, and statutes. Students taking graduate version explore the subject in greater depth.
N. Ashford, C. Caldart
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

17.395[J] Innovation Systems for Science, Technology, Energy, Manufacturing, and Health
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as STS.081[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
______
Examines science and technology innovation systems, including case studies on energy, computing, advanced manufacturing, and health sectors. Emphasizes public policy and the federal government's role in that system. Focuses on the US but uses international examples. Reviews foundations of economic growth theory, innovation systems theory, and the basic approaches to science and technology policy. Explores the organization and role of energy and medical science R&D agencies, as well as gaps in those innovation systems. Also addresses the science and technology talent base as a factor in growth, and educational approaches to better support it. Class meets for nine weeks; in the remaining weeks, students work on a final paper due at the end of the term. Limited to 25.
W. B. Bonvillian

17.399[J] Global Energy: Politics, Markets, and Policy
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 11.167[J], 14.47[J], 15.2191[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 11.267, 15.219
______
Focuses on the ways economics and politics influence the fate of energy technologies, business models, and policies around the world. Extends fundamental concepts in the social sciences to case studies and simulations that illustrate how corporate, government, and individual decisions shape energy and environmental outcomes. In a final project, students apply the concepts in order to assess the prospects for an energy innovation to scale and advance sustainability goals in a particular regional market. Recommended prerequisite: 14.01. Meets with 15.219 when offered concurrently. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details. Preference to juniors, seniors, and Energy Minors.
Staff


left arrow | 17.00-17.399 | 17.40-17.THU | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 18: Mathematics
IAP/Spring 2025


General Mathematics

18.01 Calculus
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Calculus I
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.01A, CC.1801, ES.1801, ES.181A
Lecture: TR11,F2 (2-135) Recitation: MW10 (2-135) +final
______
Differentiation and integration of functions of one variable, with applications. Informal treatment of limits and continuity. Differentiation: definition, rules, application to graphing, rates, approximations, and extremum problems. Indefinite integration; separable first-order differential equations. Definite integral; fundamental theorem of calculus. Applications of integration to geometry and science. Elementary functions. Techniques of integration. Polar coordinates. L'Hopital's rule. Improper integrals. Infinite series: geometric, p-harmonic, simple comparison tests, power series for some elementary functions.
Fall: P. Seidel
Spring: T. Rud
No required or recommended textbooks

18.01A Calculus
______

Undergrad (Fall) Calculus I; first half of term
Prereq: Knowledge of differentiation and elementary integration
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.01, CC.1801, ES.1801, ES.181A
______
Six-week review of one-variable calculus, emphasizing material not on the high-school AB syllabus: integration techniques and applications, improper integrals, infinite series, applications to other topics, such as probability and statistics, as time permits. Prerequisites: one year of high-school calculus or the equivalent, with a score of 5 on the AB Calculus test (or the AB portion of the BC test, or an equivalent score on a standard international exam), or equivalent college transfer credit, or a passing grade on the first half of the 18.01 advanced standing exam.
D. Jerison

18.02 Calculus
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Calculus II
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.022, 18.02A, CC.1802, ES.1802, ES.182A
Lecture: TR11,F2 (54-100) Recitation: MW10 (2-146) or MW11 (2-146) or MW12 (2-136) or MW1 (2-146) or MW2 (2-146) +final
______
Calculus of several variables. Vector algebra in 3-space, determinants, matrices. Vector-valued functions of one variable, space motion. Scalar functions of several variables: partial differentiation, gradient, optimization techniques. Double integrals and line integrals in the plane; exact differentials and conservative fields; Green's theorem and applications, triple integrals, line and surface integrals in space, Divergence theorem, Stokes' theorem; applications.
Fall: D. Maulik
Spring: M. King
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

18.02A Calculus
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Calculus II; second half of term
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.02, 18.022, CC.1802, ES.1802, ES.182A
Attend any 18.02 recitation. Lecture: TR11,F2 (BEGINS MAR 31) (54-100) Recitation: TBA +final
______
First half is taught during the last six weeks of the Fall term; covers material in the first half of 18.02 (through double integrals). Second half of 18.02A can be taken either during IAP (daily lectures) or during the second half of the Spring term; it covers the remaining material in 18.02.
Fall: J. Bush
IAP: J. Bush
Spring: M. King
Textbooks (IAP 2025); Textbooks (Spring 2025)

18.022 Calculus
______

Undergrad (Fall) Calculus II
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.02, 18.02A, CC.1802, ES.1802, ES.182A
______
Calculus of several variables. Topics as in 18.02 but with more focus on mathematical concepts. Vector algebra, dot product, matrices, determinant. Functions of several variables, continuity, differentiability, derivative. Parametrized curves, arc length, curvature, torsion. Vector fields, gradient, curl, divergence. Multiple integrals, change of variables, line integrals, surface integrals. Stokes' theorem in one, two, and three dimensions.
J. Zung

18.03 Differential Equations
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: None. Coreq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for CC.1803, ES.1803
Lecture: MWF1 (10-250) Recitation: TR9 (2-132) or TR10 (2-147, 26-328) or TR11 (2-139, 2-131, 26-328) or TR12 (2-139, 2-135, 2-131) or TR1 (4-163, 1-375) or TR2 (1-375, 2-131) or TR3 (2-139) +final
______
Study of differential equations, including modeling physical systems. Solution of first-order ODEs by analytical, graphical, and numerical methods. Linear ODEs with constant coefficients. Complex numbers and exponentials. Inhomogeneous equations: polynomial, sinusoidal, and exponential inputs. Oscillations, damping, resonance. Fourier series. Matrices, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, diagonalization. First order linear systems: normal modes, matrix exponentials, variation of parameters. Heat equation, wave equation. Nonlinear autonomous systems: critical point analysis, phase plane diagrams.
Fall: H. Cohn
Spring: B. Poonen
No textbook information available

18.031 System Functions and the Laplace Transform
______

Undergrad (IAP)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 18.03
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Studies basic continuous control theory as well as representation of functions in the complex frequency domain. Covers generalized functions, unit impulse response, and convolution; and Laplace transform, system (or transfer) function, and the pole diagram. Includes examples from mechanical and electrical engineering.
S. Nadimpalli
No required or recommended textbooks

18.032 Differential Equations
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: None. Coreq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: MWF1 (2-142) Recitation: TR11 (2-142) +final
______
Covers much of the same material as 18.03 with more emphasis on theory. The point of view is rigorous and results are proven. Local existence and uniqueness of solutions.
A. Lawrie
No textbook information available

18.04 Complex Variables with Applications
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 18.075, 18.0751
______
Complex algebra and functions; analyticity; contour integration, Cauchy's theorem; singularities, Taylor and Laurent series; residues, evaluation of integrals; multivalued functions, potential theory in two dimensions; Fourier analysis, Laplace transforms, and partial differential equations.
J. Dunkel

18.05 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR2.30-4,F4 (32-082) or TR1-2.30,F2 (32-082) +final
______
A unified introduction to probability, Bayesian inference, and frequentist statistics. Topics include: combinatorics, random variables, (joint) distributions, covariance, central limit theorem; Bayesian updating, odds, posterior prediction; significance tests, confidence intervals, bootstrapping, regression. Students also develop computational skills and statistical thinking by using R to simulate, analyze, and visualize data; and by exploring privacy, fairness, and causality in contemporary media and research. Flipped subject taught in a Technology Enabled Active Learning (TEAL) classroom to facilitate discussion, group problem solving, and coding studios with ample mentorship.
J. Bloom
No textbook information available

18.06 Linear Algebra
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 6.C06, 18.700, 18.C06, ES.1806
Lecture: MWF10 (26-100) Recitation: T9 (2-131) or T11 (2-136, 4-159) or T12 (4-159, 2-105) or T1 (2-132, 2-135) or T2 (2-132) or T3 (2-361) or T10 (2-131, 2-132) +final
______
Basic subject on matrix theory and linear algebra, emphasizing topics useful in other disciplines, including systems of equations, vector spaces, determinants, eigenvalues, singular value decomposition, and positive definite matrices. Applications to least-squares approximations, stability of differential equations, networks, Fourier transforms, and Markov processes. Uses linear algebra software. Compared with 18.700, more emphasis on matrix algorithms and many applications.
Fall: W. Minicozzi
Spring: N. Sun
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

18.C06[J] Linear Algebra and Optimization
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 6.C06[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.06, 18.700, ES.1806
______
Introductory course in linear algebra and optimization, assuming no prior exposure to linear algebra and starting from the basics, including vectors, matrices, eigenvalues, singular values, and least squares. Covers the basics in optimization including convex optimization, linear/quadratic programming, gradient descent, and regularization, building on insights from linear algebra. Explores a variety of applications in science and engineering, where the tools developed give powerful ways to understand complex systems and also extract structure from data.
S. Johnson

18.062[J] Mathematics for Computer Science
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 6.1200[J])
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (26-100) Recitation: WF10 (38-166, 36-155) or WF11 (38-166, 36-155, 26-168) or WF12 (38-166, 36-156, 26-168) or WF1 (38-166, 36-156, 35-310) or WF2 (38-166, 36-156, 35-308) or WF3 (38-166, 36-156) +final
______
Elementary discrete mathematics for science and engineering, with a focus on mathematical tools and proof techniques useful in computer science. Topics include logical notation, sets, relations, elementary graph theory, state machines and invariants, induction and proofs by contradiction, recurrences, asymptotic notation, elementary analysis of algorithms, elementary number theory and cryptography, permutations and combinations, counting tools, and discrete probability.
Fall: Z. Abel
Spring: Z. Abel
No textbook information available

18.063 Matrix Calculus for Machine Learning and Beyond
(New)
______

Undergrad (IAP); partial term
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and 18.06
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Covers a coherent approach to matrix calculus, showing techniques that allow the student to think of a matrix holistically, rather than as an array of scalars; generalize and compute derivatives of important matrix factorizations and other complicated-looking operations; and understand how differentiation formulas must be reimagined in large-scale computing. Discusses "adjoint" or "reverse-mode" differentiation, custom vector-Jacobian products, and how modern automatic differentiation is more computer science than calculus.
S. Johnson
No textbook information available

18.065 Matrix Methods in Data Analysis, Signal Processing, and Machine Learning
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.0651)
Prereq: 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (32-141)
______
Reviews linear algebra with applications to life sciences, finance, engineering, and big data. Covers singular value decomposition, weighted least squares, signal and image processing, principal component analysis, covariance and correlation matrices, directed and undirected graphs, matrix factorizations, neural nets, machine learning, and computations with large matrices.
Z. Chen
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

18.0651 Matrix Methods in Data Analysis, Signal Processing, and Machine Learning
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.065)
Prereq: 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (32-141)
______
Reviews linear algebra with applications to life sciences, finance, engineering, and big data. Covers singular value decomposition, weighted least squares, signal and image processing, principal component analysis, covariance and correlation matrices, directed and undirected graphs, matrix factorizations, neural nets, machine learning, and computations with large matrices. Students in Course 18 must register for the undergraduate version, 18.065.
Staff
No textbook information available

18.075 Methods for Scientists and Engineers
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.0751)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 18.04
______
Covers functions of a complex variable; calculus of residues. Includes ordinary differential equations; Bessel and Legendre functions; Sturm-Liouville theory; partial differential equations; heat equation; and wave equations.
H. Cheng

18.0751 Methods for Scientists and Engineers
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.075)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 18.04
______
Covers functions of a complex variable; calculus of residues. Includes ordinary differential equations; Bessel and Legendre functions; Sturm-Liouville theory; partial differential equations; heat equation; and wave equations. Students in Courses 6, 8, 12, 18, and 22 must register for undergraduate version, 18.075.
H. Cheng

18.085 Computational Science and Engineering I
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring, Summer)
(Subject meets with 18.0851)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (4-145) +final
______
Review of linear algebra, applications to networks, structures, and estimation, finite difference and finite element solution of differential equations, Laplace's equation and potential flow, boundary-value problems, Fourier series, discrete Fourier transform, convolution. Frequent use of MATLAB in a wide range of scientific and engineering applications.
Fall: P. Chao
Spring: P. Chao
Summer: Staff
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

18.0851 Computational Science and Engineering I
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer)
(Subject meets with 18.085)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (4-145) +final
______
Review of linear algebra, applications to networks, structures, and estimation, finite difference and finite element solution of differential equations, Laplace's equation and potential flow, boundary-value problems, Fourier series, discrete Fourier transform, convolution. Frequent use of MATLAB in a wide range of scientific and engineering applications. Students in Course 18 must register for the undergraduate version, 18.085.
Fall: D. Kouskoulas
Summer: Staff
No textbook information available

18.086 Computational Science and Engineering II
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 18.0861)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 3-0-9
URL: http://math.mit.edu/18086/
______
Initial value problems: finite difference methods, accuracy and stability, heat equation, wave equations, conservation laws and shocks, level sets, Navier-Stokes. Solving large systems: elimination with reordering, iterative methods, preconditioning, multigrid, Krylov subspaces, conjugate gradients. Optimization and minimum principles: weighted least squares, constraints, inverse problems, calculus of variations, saddle point problems, linear programming, duality, adjoint methods.
Staff

18.0861 Computational Science and Engineering II
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 18.086)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Initial value problems: finite difference methods, accuracy and stability, heat equation, wave equations, conservation laws and shocks, level sets, Navier-Stokes. Solving large systems: elimination with reordering, iterative methods, preconditioning, multigrid, Krylov subspaces, conjugate gradients. Optimization and minimum principles: weighted least squares, constraints, inverse problems, calculus of variations, saddle point problems, linear programming, duality, adjoint methods. Students in Course 18 must register for the undergraduate version, 18.086.
Staff

18.089 Review of Mathematics
______

Graduate (Summer)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-7
______
One-week review of one-variable calculus (18.01), followed by concentrated study covering multivariable calculus (18.02), two hours per day for five weeks. Primarily for graduate students in Course 2N. Degree credit allowed only in special circumstances.
Staff

18.090 Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: None. Coreq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (2-142)
______
Focuses on understanding and constructing mathematical arguments. Discusses foundational topics (such as infinite sets, quantifiers, and methods of proof) as well as selected concepts from algebra (permutations, vector spaces, fields) and analysis (sequences of real numbers). Particularly suitable for students desiring additional experience with proofs before going on to more advanced mathematics subjects or subjects in related areas with significant mathematical content.
S. Dyatlov
No textbook information available

18.091 Introduction to Metric Spaces
(New)
______

Undergrad (IAP); partial term
Prereq: 18.100A
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Covers metrics, open and closed sets, continuous functions (from a topological perspective), function spaces, completeness, and compactness. Aims to provide more complex concepts and proofs for students who have taken 18.100A as their real analysis subject.
S. Nadimpalli
No required or recommended textbooks

18.094[J] Teaching College-Level Science and Engineering
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.95[J], 5.95[J], 7.59[J], 8.395[J])
(Subject meets with 2.978)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Participatory seminar focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary for teaching science and engineering in higher education. Topics include theories of adult learning; course development; promoting active learning, problemsolving, and critical thinking in students; communicating with a diverse student body; using educational technology to further learning; lecturing; creating effective tests and assignments; and assessment and evaluation. Students research and present a relevant topic of particular interest. Appropriate for both novices and those with teaching experience.
J. Rankin

18.095 Mathematics Lecture Series
______

Undergrad (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR)
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
Ten lectures by mathematics faculty members on interesting topics from both classical and modern mathematics. All lectures accessible to students with calculus background and an interest in mathematics. At each lecture, reading and exercises are assigned. Students prepare these for discussion in a weekly problem session.
J. Dunkel
No textbook information available

18.098 Internship in Mathematics
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Provides academic credit for students pursuing internships to gain practical experience in the applications of mathematical concepts and methods.
Fall: T. Cummings
IAP: T. Cummings
Spring: T. Cummings
No required or recommended textbooks

18.099 Independent Study
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Studies (during IAP) or special individual reading (during regular terms). Arranged in consultation with individual faculty members and subject to departmental approval.  May not be used to satisfy Mathematics major requirements.
Fall: T. Cummings
IAP: T. Cummings
Spring: T. Cummings
No required or recommended textbooks

Analysis

18.1001 Real Analysis
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.100A)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 18.1002, 18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, 18.100Q
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (4-270) +final
______
Covers fundamentals of mathematical analysis: convergence of sequences and series, continuity, differentiability, Riemann integral, sequences and series of functions, uniformity, interchange of limit operations. Shows the utility of abstract concepts and teaches understanding and construction of proofs. Proofs and definitions are less abstract than in 18.100B. Gives applications where possible. Concerned primarily with the real line. Students in Course 18 must register for undergraduate version 18.100A.
Fall: Q. Deng
Spring: J. Zhu
No textbook information available

18.1002 Real Analysis
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.100B)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 18.1001, 18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, 18.100Q
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (2-190) +final
______
Covers fundamentals of mathematical analysis: convergence of sequences and series, continuity, differentiability, Riemann integral, sequences and series of functions, uniformity, interchange of limit operations. Shows the utility of abstract concepts and teaches understanding and construction of proofs. More demanding than 18.100A, for students with more mathematical maturity. Places more emphasis on point-set topology and n-space. Students in Course 18 must register for undergraduate version 18.100B.
Fall: R. Melrose
Spring: G. Franz
No textbook information available

18.100A Real Analysis
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.1001)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 18.1001, 18.1002, 18.100B, 18.100P, 18.100Q
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (4-270) +final
______
Covers fundamentals of mathematical analysis: convergence of sequences and series, continuity, differentiability, Riemann integral, sequences and series of functions, uniformity, interchange of limit operations. Shows the utility of abstract concepts and teaches understanding and construction of proofs. Proofs and definitions are less abstract than in 18.100B. Gives applications where possible. Concerned primarily with the real line.
Fall: T. Chow
Spring: J. Zhu
No required or recommended textbooks

18.100B Real Analysis
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.1002)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 18.1001, 18.1002, 18.100A, 18.100P, 18.100Q
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (2-190) +final
______
Covers fundamentals of mathematical analysis: convergence of sequences and series, continuity, differentiability, Riemann integral, sequences and series of functions, uniformity, interchange of limit operations. Shows the utility of abstract concepts and teaches understanding and construction of proofs. More demanding than 18.100A, for students with more mathematical maturity. Places more emphasis on point-set topology and n-space.
Fall: L. Guth
Spring: T. Colding
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

18.100P Real Analysis
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 4-0-11
Credit cannot also be received for 18.1001, 18.1002, 18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100Q
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (LIMITED 30) (2-131) Recitation: F11 (2-146) or F1 (2-151)
______
Covers fundamentals of mathematical analysis: convergence of sequences and series, continuity, differentiability, Riemann integral, sequences and series of functions, uniformity, interchange of limit operations. Shows the utility of abstract concepts and teaches understanding and construction of proofs. Proofs and definitions are less abstract than in 18.100B. Gives applications where possible. Concerned primarily with the real line. Includes instruction and practice in written communication. Enrollment limited.
R. Maguire
No required or recommended textbooks

18.100Q Real Analysis
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 4-0-11
Credit cannot also be received for 18.1001, 18.1002, 18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P
______
Covers fundamentals of mathematical analysis: convergence of sequences and series, continuity, differentiability, Riemann integral, sequences and series of functions, uniformity, interchange of limit operations. Shows the utility of abstract concepts and teaches understanding and construction of proofs. More demanding than 18.100A, for students with more mathematical maturity. Places more emphasis on point-set topology and n-space. Includes instruction and practice in written communication. Enrollment limited.
M. Lipton

18.101 Analysis and Manifolds
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 18.1011)
Prereq: (18.06, 18.700, or 18.701) and (18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, or 18.100Q)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to the theory of manifolds: vector fields and densities on manifolds, integral calculus in the manifold setting and the manifold version of the divergence theorem. 18.901 helpful but not required.
R. Jiang

18.1011 Analysis and Manifolds
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 18.101)
Prereq: (18.06, 18.700, or 18.701) and (18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, or 18.100Q)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to the theory of manifolds: vector fields and densities on manifolds, integral calculus in the manifold setting and the manifold version of the divergence theorem. 18.9011 helpful but not required. Students in Course 18 must register for the undergraduate version, 18.101.
Staff

18.102 Introduction to Functional Analysis
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.1021)
Prereq: (18.06, 18.700, or 18.701) and (18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, or 18.100Q)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (4-237) +final
______
Normed spaces, completeness, functionals, Hahn-Banach theorem, duality, operators. Lebesgue measure, measurable functions, integrability, completeness of L-p spaces. Hilbert space. Compact, Hilbert-Schmidt and trace class operators. Spectral theorem.
C. Kehle
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

18.1021 Introduction to Functional Analysis
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.102)
Prereq: (18.06, 18.700, or 18.701) and (18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, or 18.100Q)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (4-237) +final
______
Normed spaces, completeness, functionals, Hahn-Banach theorem, duality, operators. Lebesgue measure, measurable functions, integrability, completeness of L-p spaces. Hilbert space. Compact, Hilbert-Schmidt and trace class operators. Spectral theorem. Students in Course 18 must register for the undergraduate version, 18.102.
Staff
No textbook information available

18.103 Fourier Analysis: Theory and Applications
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.1031)
Prereq: (18.06, 18.700, or 18.701) and (18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, or 18.100Q)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Roughly half the subject devoted to the theory of the Lebesgue integral with applications to probability, and half to Fourier series and Fourier integrals.
Staff

18.1031 Fourier Analysis: Theory and Applications
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.103)
Prereq: (18.06, 18.700, or 18.701) and (18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, or 18.100Q)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Roughly half the subject devoted to the theory of the Lebesgue integral with applications to probability, and half to Fourier series and Fourier integrals. Students in Course 18 must register for the undergraduate version, 18.103.
Staff

18.104 Seminar in Analysis
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: 18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, or 18.100Q
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (2-151)
______
Students present and discuss material from books or journals. Topics vary from year to year. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Enrollment limited.
Fall: L. Alon
Spring: T. Ozuch-Meersseman
No required or recommended textbooks

18.112 Functions of a Complex Variable
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 18.1121)
Prereq: (18.06, 18.700, or 18.701) and (18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, or 18.100Q)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies the basic properties of analytic functions of one complex variable. Conformal mappings and the Poincare model of non-Euclidean geometry. Cauchy-Goursat theorem and Cauchy integral formula. Taylor and Laurent decompositions. Singularities, residues and computation of integrals. Harmonic functions and Dirichlet's problem for the Laplace equation. The partial fractions decomposition. Infinite series and infinite product expansions. The Gamma function. The Riemann mapping theorem. Elliptic functions.
J. Shi

18.1121 Functions of a Complex Variable
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 18.112)
Prereq: (18.06, 18.700, or 18.701) and (18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, or 18.100Q)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies the basic properties of analytic functions of one complex variable. Conformal mappings and the Poincare model of non-Euclidean geometry. Cauchy-Goursat theorem and Cauchy integral formula. Taylor and Laurent decompositions. Singularities, residues and computation of integrals. Harmonic functions and Dirichlet's problem for the Laplace equation. The partial fractions decomposition. Infinite series and infinite product expansions. The Gamma function. The Riemann mapping theorem. Elliptic functions. Students in Course 18 must register for the undergraduate version, 18.112.
Staff

18.116 Riemann Surfaces
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 18.112
Units: 3-0-9
______
Riemann surfaces, uniformization, Riemann-Roch Theorem. Theory of elliptic functions and modular forms. Some applications, such as to number theory.
Staff

18.117 Topics in Several Complex Variables
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 18.112 and 18.965
Units: 3-0-9
______
Harmonic theory on complex manifolds, Hodge decomposition theorem, Hard Lefschetz theorem. Vanishing theorems. Theory of Stein manifolds. As time permits students also study holomorphic vector bundles on Kahler manifolds.
Staff

18.118 Topics in Analysis
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Topics vary from year to year.
Staff

18.125 Measure Theory and Analysis
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, or 18.100Q
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a rigorous introduction to Lebesgue's theory of measure and integration. Covers material that is essential in analysis, probability theory, and differential geometry.
Staff

18.137 Topics in Geometric Partial Differential Equations
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Topics vary from year to year.
T. Colding

18.152 Introduction to Partial Differential Equations
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 18.1521)
Prereq: (18.06, 18.700, or 18.701) and (18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, or 18.100Q)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces three main types of partial differential equations: diffusion, elliptic, and hyperbolic. Includes mathematical tools, real-world examples and applications, such as the Black-Scholes equation, the European options problem, water waves, scalar conservation laws, first order equations and traffic problems.
F. Hernandez

18.1521 Introduction to Partial Differential Equations
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.152)
Prereq: (18.06, 18.700, or 18.701) and (18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, or 18.100Q)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces three main types of partial differential equations: diffusion, elliptic, and hyperbolic. Includes mathematical tools, real-world examples and applications, such as the Black-Scholes equation, the European options problem, water waves, scalar conservation laws, first order equations and traffic problems. Students in Course 18 must register for the undergraduate version, 18.152.
Staff

18.155 Differential Analysis I
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 18.102 or 18.103
Units: 3-0-9
______
First part of a two-subject sequence. Review of Lebesgue integration. Lp spaces. Distributions. Fourier transform. Sobolev spaces. Spectral theorem, discrete and continuous spectrum. Homogeneous distributions. Fundamental solutions for elliptic, hyperbolic and parabolic differential operators. Recommended prerequisite: 18.112.
A. Logunov

18.156 Differential Analysis II
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 18.155
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (2-142)
______
Second part of a two-subject sequence. Covers variable coefficient elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic partial differential equations.
L. Guth
No required or recommended textbooks

18.157 Introduction to Microlocal Analysis
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 18.155
Units: 3-0-9
______
The semi-classical theory of partial differential equations. Discussion of Pseudodifferential operators, Fourier integral operators, asymptotic solutions of partial differential equations, and the spectral theory of Schroedinger operators from the semi-classical perspective. Heavy emphasis placed on the symplectic geometric underpinnings of this subject.
Staff

18.158 Topics in Differential Equations
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 18.157
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (2-147)
______
Topics vary from year to year.
A. Logunov
No textbook information available

18.199 Graduate Analysis Seminar
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies original papers in differential analysis and differential equations. Intended for first- and second-year graduate students. Permission must be secured in advance.
Staff

Discrete Applied Mathematics

18.200 Principles of Discrete Applied Mathematics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 18.06
Units: 4-0-11
Credit cannot also be received for 18.200A
Limited 45. Lecture: MWF2 (2-190) Recitation: R10 (2-146) or R1 (2-146) or R2 (2-146)
______
Study of illustrative topics in discrete applied mathematics, including probability theory, information theory, coding theory, secret codes, generating functions, and linear programming. Instruction and practice in written communication provided. Enrollment limited.
P. Shor
No required or recommended textbooks

18.200A Principles of Discrete Applied Mathematics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 18.200
______
Study of illustrative topics in discrete applied mathematics, including probability theory, information theory, coding theory, secret codes, generating functions, and linear programming.
Staff

18.204 Undergraduate Seminar in Discrete Mathematics
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: ((6.1200 or 18.200) and (18.06, 18.700, or 18.701)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (LIMITED 15 EACH S .. (2-151) or TR2.30-4 (4-237, 2-147)
______
Seminar in combinatorics, graph theory, and discrete mathematics in general. Participants read and present papers from recent mathematics literature. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Enrollment limited.
Fall: M. Dhar
Spring: M. Dhar
No textbook information available

18.211 Combinatorial Analysis
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and (18.06, 18.700, or 18.701)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Combinatorial problems and methods for their solution. Enumeration, generating functions, recurrence relations, construction of bijections. Introduction to graph theory. Prior experience with abstraction and proofs is helpful.
M. Simkin

18.212 Algebraic Combinatorics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 18.701 or 18.703
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MWF1 (4-237)
______
Applications of algebra to combinatorics. Topics include walks in graphs, the Radon transform, groups acting on posets, Young tableaux, electrical networks.
A. Postnikov
No textbook information available

18.217 Combinatorial Theory
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Content varies from year to year.
A. Postnikov

18.218 Topics in Combinatorics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Topics vary from year to year.
Staff

18.219 Seminar in Combinatorics
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Content varies from year to year. Readings from current research papers in combinatorics. Topics to be chosen and presented by the class.
Staff

18.225 Graph Theory and Additive Combinatorics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: ((18.701 or 18.703) and (18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, or 18.100Q)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to extremal graph theory and additive combinatorics. Highlights common themes, such as the dichotomy between structure versus pseudorandomness. Topics include Turan-type problems, Szemeredi's regularity lemma and applications, pseudorandom graphs, spectral graph theory, graph limits, arithmetic progressions (Roth, Szemeredi, Green-Tao), discrete Fourier analysis, Freiman's theorem on sumsets and structure. Discusses current research topics and open problems.
Y. Zhao

18.226 Probabilistic Methods in Combinatorics
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: (18.211, 18.600, and (18.100A, 18.100B, 18.100P, or 18.100Q)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to the probabilistic method, a fundamental and powerful technique in combinatorics and theoretical computer science. Focuses on methodology as well as combinatorial applications. Suitable for students with strong interest and background in mathematical problem solving. Topics include linearity of expectations, alteration, second moment, Lovasz local lemma, correlation inequalities, Janson inequalities, concentration inequalities, entropy method.
S. Luo

Continuous Applied Mathematics

18.300 Principles of Continuum Applied Mathematics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (4-145)
______
Covers fundamental concepts in continuous applied mathematics. Applications from traffic flow, fluids, elasticity, granular flows, etc. Also covers continuum limit; conservation laws, quasi-equilibrium; kinematic waves; characteristics, simple waves, shocks; diffusion (linear and nonlinear); numerical solution of wave equations; finite differences, consistency, stability; discrete and fast Fourier transforms; spectral methods; transforms and series (Fourier, Laplace). Additional topics may include sonic booms, Mach cone, caustics, lattices, dispersion and group velocity. Uses MATLAB computing environment.
L. Demanet
No textbook information available

18.303 Linear Partial Differential Equations: Analysis and Numerics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 18.06 or 18.700
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides students with the basic analytical and computational tools of linear partial differential equations (PDEs) for practical applications in science and engineering, including heat/diffusion, wave, and Poisson equations. Analytics emphasize the viewpoint of linear algebra and the analogy with finite matrix problems. Studies operator adjoints and eigenproblems, series solutions, Green's functions, and separation of variables. Numerics focus on finite-difference and finite-element techniques to reduce PDEs to matrix problems, including stability and convergence analysis and implicit/explicit timestepping. Some programming required for homework and final project.
Staff

18.305 Advanced Analytic Methods in Science and Engineering
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 18.04, 18.075, or 18.112
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers expansion around singular points: the WKB method on ordinary and partial differential equations; the method of stationary phase and the saddle point method; the two-scale method and the method of renormalized perturbation; singular perturbation and boundary-layer techniques; WKB method on partial differential equations.
Staff

18.306 Advanced Partial Differential Equations with Applications
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: (18.03 or 18.032) and (18.04, 18.075, or 18.112)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Concepts and techniques for partial differential equations, especially nonlinear. Diffusion, dispersion and other phenomena. Initial and boundary value problems. Normal mode analysis, Green's functions, and transforms. Conservation laws, kinematic waves, hyperbolic equations, characteristics shocks, simple waves. Geometrical optics, caustics. Free-boundary problems. Dimensional analysis. Singular perturbation, boundary layers, homogenization. Variational methods. Solitons. Applications from fluid dynamics, materials science, optics, traffic flow, etc.
Staff

18.327 Topics in Applied Mathematics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Topics vary from year to year.
Staff

18.330 Introduction to Numerical Analysis
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Basic techniques for the efficient numerical solution of problems in science and engineering. Root finding, interpolation, approximation of functions, integration, differential equations, direct and iterative methods in linear algebra. Knowledge of programming in a language such as MATLAB, Python, or Julia is helpful.
Staff

18.335[J] Introduction to Numerical Methods
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.7310[J])
Prereq: 18.06, 18.700, or 18.701
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (2-190)
______
Advanced introduction to numerical analysis: accuracy and efficiency of numerical algorithms. In-depth coverage of sparse-matrix/iterative and dense-matrix algorithms in numerical linear algebra (for linear systems and eigenproblems). Floating-point arithmetic, backwards error analysis, conditioning, and stability. Other computational topics (e.g., numerical integration or nonlinear optimization) may also be surveyed. Final project involves some programming.
S. Chen
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

18.336[J] Fast Methods for Partial Differential and Integral Equations
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Same subject as 6.7340[J])
Prereq: 6.7300, 16.920, 18.085, 18.335, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Unified introduction to the theory and practice of modern, near linear-time, numerical methods for large-scale partial-differential and integral equations. Topics include preconditioned iterative methods; generalized Fast Fourier Transform and other butterfly-based methods; multiresolution approaches, such as multigrid algorithms and hierarchical low-rank matrix decompositions; and low and high frequency Fast Multipole Methods. Example applications include aircraft design, cardiovascular system modeling, electronic structure computation, and tomographic imaging.
Staff

18.337[J] Parallel Computing and Scientific Machine Learning
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.7320[J])
Prereq: 18.06, 18.700, or 18.701
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to scientific machine learning with an emphasis on developing scalable differentiable programs. Covers scientific computing topics (numerical differential equations, dense and sparse linear algebra, Fourier transformations, parallelization of large-scale scientific simulation) simultaneously with modern data science (machine learning, deep neural networks, automatic differentiation), focusing on the emerging techniques at the connection between these areas, such as neural differential equations and physics-informed deep learning. Provides direct experience with the modern realities of optimizing code performance for supercomputers, GPUs, and multicores in a high-level language.
Staff

18.338 Eigenvalues of Random Matrices
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: 18.701 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers the modern main results of random matrix theory as it is currently applied in engineering and science. Topics include matrix calculus for finite and infinite matrices (e.g., Wigner's semi-circle and Marcenko-Pastur laws), free probability, random graphs, combinatorial methods, matrix statistics, stochastic operators, passage to the continuum limit, moment methods, and compressed sensing. Knowledge of Julia helpful, but not required.
A. Edelman

18.352[J] Nonlinear Dynamics: The Natural Environment
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 12.009[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics I (GIR); Coreq: 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
______
Analyzes cooperative processes that shape the natural environment, now and in the geologic past. Emphasizes the development of theoretical models that relate the physical and biological worlds, the comparison of theory to observational data, and associated mathematical methods. Topics include carbon cycle dynamics; ecosystem structure, stability and complexity; mass extinctions; biosphere-geosphere coevolution; and climate change. Employs techniques such as stability analysis; scaling; null model construction; time series and network analysis.
D. H. Rothman

18.353[J] Nonlinear Dynamics: Chaos
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.050[J], 12.006[J])
Prereq: Physics II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to nonlinear dynamics and chaos in dissipative systems. Forced and parametric oscillators. Phase space. Periodic, quasiperiodic, and aperiodic flows. Sensitivity to initial conditions and strange attractors. Lorenz attractor. Period doubling, intermittency, and quasiperiodicity. Scaling and universality. Analysis of experimental data: Fourier transforms, Poincare sections, fractal dimension, and Lyapunov exponents. Applications to mechanical systems, fluid dynamics, physics, geophysics, and chemistry. See 12.207J/18.354J for Nonlinear Dynamics: Continuum Systems.
R. Rosales

18.354[J] Nonlinear Dynamics: Continuum Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.062[J], 12.207[J])
(Subject meets with 18.3541)
Prereq: Physics II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (2-143)
______
General mathematical principles of continuum systems. From microscopic to macroscopic descriptions in the form of linear or nonlinear (partial) differential equations. Exact solutions, dimensional analysis, calculus of variations and singular perturbation methods. Stability, waves and pattern formation in continuum systems. Subject matter illustrated using natural fluid and solid systems found, for example, in geophysics and biology.
N. Derr
No textbook information available

18.3541 Nonlinear Dynamics: Continuum Systems
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 1.062[J], 12.207[J], 18.354[J])
Prereq: Physics II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (2-143)
______
General mathematical principles of continuum systems. From microscopic to macroscopic descriptions in the form of linear or nonlinear (partial) differential equations. Exact solutions, dimensional analysis, calculus of variations and singular perturbation methods. Stability, waves and pattern formation in continuum systems. Subject matter illustrated using natural fluid and solid systems found, for example, in geophysics and biology. Students in Courses 1, 12, and 18 must register for undergraduate version, 18.354.
B. Primkulov
No textbook information available

18.355 Fluid Mechanics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 2.25, 12.800, or 18.354
Units: 3-0-9
______
Topics include the development of Navier-Stokes equations, inviscid flows, boundary layers, lubrication theory, Stokes flows, and surface tension. Fundamental concepts illustrated through problems drawn from a variety of areas, including geophysics, biology, and the dynamics of sport. Particular emphasis on the interplay between dimensional analysis, scaling arguments, and theory. Includes classroom and laboratory demonstrations.
Staff

18.357 Interfacial Phenomena
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 2.25, 12.800, 18.354, 18.355, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW3-4.30 (2-151)
______
Fluid systems dominated by the influence of interfacial tension. Elucidates the roles of curvature pressure and Marangoni stress in a variety of hydrodynamic settings. Particular attention to drops and bubbles, soap films and minimal surfaces, wetting phenomena, water-repellency, surfactants, Marangoni flows, capillary origami and contact line dynamics. Theoretical developments are accompanied by classroom demonstrations. Highlights the role of surface tension in biology.
J. Bush
No textbook information available

18.358[J] Nonlinear Dynamics and Turbulence
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.686[J], 2.033[J])
(Subject meets with 1.068)
Prereq: 1.060A
Units: 3-2-7
______
Reviews theoretical notions of nonlinear dynamics, instabilities, and waves with applications in fluid dynamics. Discusses hydrodynamic instabilities leading to flow destabilization and transition to turbulence. Focuses on physical turbulence and mixing from homogeneous isotropic turbulence. Also covers topics such as rotating and stratified flows as they arise in the environment, wave-turbulence, and point source turbulent flows. Laboratory activities integrate theoretical concepts covered in lectures and problem sets. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
L. Bourouiba

18.367 Waves and Imaging
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
The mathematics of inverse problems involving waves, with examples taken from reflection seismology, synthetic aperture radar, and computerized tomography. Suitable for graduate students from all departments who have affinities with applied mathematics. Topics include acoustic, elastic, electromagnetic wave equations; geometrical optics; scattering series and inversion; migration and backprojection; adjoint-state methods; Radon and curvilinear Radon transforms; microlocal analysis of imaging; optimization, regularization, and sparse regression.
L. Demanet

18.369[J] Mathematical Methods in Nanophotonics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 8.315[J])
Prereq: 8.07, 18.303, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
High-level approaches to understanding complex optical media, structured on the scale of the wavelength, that are not generally analytically soluable. The basis for understanding optical phenomena such as photonic crystals and band gaps, anomalous diffraction, mechanisms for optical confinement, optical fibers (new and old), nonlinearities, and integrated optical devices. Methods covered include linear algebra and eigensystems for Maxwell's equations, symmetry groups and representation theory, Bloch's theorem, numerical eigensolver methods, time and frequency-domain computation, perturbation theory, and coupled-mode theories.
S. G. Johnson

18.376[J] Wave Propagation
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.138[J], 2.062[J])
Prereq: 2.003 and 18.075
Units: 3-0-9
______
Theoretical concepts and analysis of wave problems in science and engineering with examples chosen from elasticity, acoustics, geophysics, hydrodynamics, blood flow, nondestructive evaluation, and other applications. Progressive waves, group velocity and dispersion, energy density and transport. Reflection, refraction and transmission of plane waves by an interface. Mode conversion in elastic waves. Rayleigh waves. Waves due to a moving load. Scattering by a two-dimensional obstacle. Reciprocity theorems. Parabolic approximation. Waves on the sea surface. Capillary-gravity waves. Wave resistance. Radiation of surface waves. Internal waves in stratified fluids. Waves in rotating media. Waves in random media.
T. R. Akylas, R. R. Rosales

18.377[J] Nonlinear Dynamics and Waves
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.685[J], 2.034[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
A unified treatment of nonlinear oscillations and wave phenomena with applications to mechanical, optical, geophysical, fluid, electrical and flow-structure interaction problems. Nonlinear free and forced vibrations; nonlinear resonances; self-excited oscillations; lock-in phenomena. Nonlinear dispersive and nondispersive waves; resonant wave interactions; propagation of wave pulses and nonlinear Schrodinger equation. Nonlinear long waves and breaking; theory of characteristics; the Korteweg-de Vries equation; solitons and solitary wave interactions. Stability of shear flows. Some topics and applications may vary from year to year.
Staff

18.384 Undergraduate Seminar in Physical Mathematics
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 12.006, 18.300, 18.354, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers the mathematical modeling of physical systems, with emphasis on the reading and presentation of papers. Addresses a broad range of topics, with particular focus on macroscopic physics and continuum systems: fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, and biophysics. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Enrollment limited.
N. Derr

18.385[J] Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.036[J])
Prereq: 18.03 or 18.032
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to the theory of nonlinear dynamical systems with applications from science and engineering. Local and global existence of solutions, dependence on initial data and parameters. Elementary bifurcations, normal forms. Phase plane, limit cycles, relaxation oscillations, Poincare-Bendixson theory. Floquet theory. Poincare maps. Averaging. Near-equilibrium dynamics. Synchronization. Introduction to chaos. Universality. Strange attractors. Lorenz and Rossler systems. Hamiltonian dynamics and KAM theory. Uses MATLAB computing environment.
Staff

18.397 Mathematical Methods in Physics
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 18.745 or some familiarity with Lie theory
Units: 3-0-9
______
Content varies from year to year. Recent developments in quantum field theory require mathematical techniques not usually covered in standard graduate subjects.
Staff

Theoretical Computer Science

18.400[J] Computability and Complexity Theory
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.1400[J])
Prereq: (6.1200 and 6.1210) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (37-212) Recitation: F11 (4-257) or F1 (24-121) +final
______
Mathematical introduction to the theory of computing. Rigorously explores what kinds of tasks can be efficiently solved with computers by way of finite automata, circuits, Turing machines, and communication complexity, introducing students to some major open problems in mathematics. Builds skills in classifying computational tasks in terms of their difficulty. Discusses other fundamental issues in computing, including the Halting Problem, the Church-Turing Thesis, the P versus NP problem, and the power of randomness.  
R. Williams
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

18.404 Theory of Computation
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 6.5400[J], 18.4041[J])
Prereq: 6.1200 or 18.200
Units: 4-0-8
______
A more extensive and theoretical treatment of the material in 6.1400J/18.400J, emphasizing computability and computational complexity theory. Regular and context-free languages. Decidable and undecidable problems, reducibility, recursive function theory. Time and space measures on computation, completeness, hierarchy theorems, inherently complex problems, oracles, probabilistic computation, and interactive proof systems.
M. Sipser

18.4041[J] Theory of Computation
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.5400[J])
(Subject meets with 18.404)
Prereq: 6.1200 or 18.200
Units: 4-0-8
______
A more extensive and theoretical treatment of the material in 6.1400J/18.400J, emphasizing computability and computational complexity theory. Regular and context-free languages. Decidable and undecidable problems, reducibility, recursive function theory. Time and space measures on computation, completeness, hierarchy theorems, inherently complex problems, oracles, probabilistic computation, and interactive proof systems. Students in Course 18 must register for the undergraduate version, 18.404.
M. Sipser

18.405[J] Advanced Complexity Theory
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.5410[J])
Prereq: 18.404
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (4-163)
______
Current research topics in computational complexity theory. Nondeterministic, alternating, probabilistic, and parallel computation models. Boolean circuits. Complexity classes and complete sets. The polynomial-time hierarchy. Interactive proof systems. Relativization. Definitions of randomness. Pseudo-randomness and derandomizations. Interactive proof systems and probabilistically checkable proofs.
D. Minzer
No textbook information available

18.408 Topics in Theoretical Computer Science
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Study of areas of current interest in theoretical computer science. Topics vary from term to term.
J. Kelner

18.410[J] Design and Analysis of Algorithms
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
(Same subject as 6.1220[J])
Prereq: 6.1200 and 6.1210
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (32-123) Recitation: F9 (36-112) or F10 (36-112) or F11 (36-112) or F12 (36-112) or F1 (36-112) or F2 (36-112) or F3 (36-112) or F10 (24-121) or F11 (4-265) or F12 (4-265) or F1 (4-265) or F2 (24-121) or F3 (24-121) +final
______
Techniques for the design and analysis of efficient algorithms, emphasizing methods useful in practice. Topics include sorting; search trees, heaps, and hashing; divide-and-conquer; dynamic programming; greedy algorithms; amortized analysis; graph algorithms; and shortest paths. Advanced topics may include network flow; computational geometry; number-theoretic algorithms; polynomial and matrix calculations; caching; and parallel computing.
Fall: S. Raghuraman
Spring: S. Raghuraman
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

18.413 Introduction to Computational Molecular Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.417)
Prereq: 6.1210 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to computational molecular biology with a focus on the basic computational algorithms used to solve problems in practice. Covers classical techniques in the field for solving problems such as genome sequencing, assembly, and search; detecting genome rearrangements; constructing evolutionary trees; analyzing mass spectrometry data; connecting gene expression to cellular function; and machine learning for drug discovery. Prior knowledge of biology is not required. Particular emphasis on problem solving, collaborative learning, theoretical analysis, and practical implementation of algorithms. Students taking graduate version complete additional and more complex assignments.
B. Berger

18.415[J] Advanced Algorithms
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.5210[J])
Prereq: 6.1220 and (6.1200, 6.3700, or 18.600)
Units: 5-0-7
______
First-year graduate subject in algorithms. Emphasizes fundamental algorithms and advanced methods of algorithmic design, analysis, and implementation. Surveys a variety of computational models and the algorithms for them. Data structures, network flows, linear programming, computational geometry, approximation algorithms, online algorithms, parallel algorithms, external memory, streaming algorithms.
D. Karger

18.416[J] Randomized Algorithms
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.5220[J])
Prereq: (6.1200 or 6.3700) and (6.1220 or 6.5210)
Units: 5-0-7
______
Studies how randomization can be used to make algorithms simpler and more efficient via random sampling, random selection of witnesses, symmetry breaking, and Markov chains. Models of randomized computation. Data structures: hash tables, and skip lists. Graph algorithms: minimum spanning trees, shortest paths, and minimum cuts. Geometric algorithms: convex hulls, linear programming in fixed or arbitrary dimension. Approximate counting; parallel algorithms; online algorithms; derandomization techniques; and tools for probabilistic analysis of algorithms.
Staff

18.417 Introduction to Computational Molecular Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.413)
Prereq: 6.1210 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to computational molecular biology with a focus on the basic computational algorithms used to solve problems in practice. Covers classical techniques in the field for solving problems such as genome sequencing, assembly, and search; detecting genome rearrangements; constructing evolutionary trees; analyzing mass spectrometry data; connecting gene expression to cellular function; and machine learning for drug discovery. Prior knowledge of biology is not required. Particular emphasis on problem solving, collaborative learning, theoretical analysis, and practical implementation of algorithms. Students taking graduate version complete additional and more complex assignments.
B. Berger

18.418[J] Topics in Computational Molecular Biology
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as HST.504[J])
Prereq: 6.8701, 18.417, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers current research topics in computational molecular biology. Recent research papers presented from leading conferences such as the International Conference on Computational Molecular Biology (RECOMB) and the Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB). Topics include original research (both theoretical and experimental) in comparative genomics, sequence and structure analysis, molecular evolution, proteomics, gene expression, transcriptional regulation, biological networks, drug discovery, and privacy. Recent research by course participants also covered. Participants will be expected to present individual projects to the class.
B. Berger

18.424 Seminar in Information Theory
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: (6.3700, 18.05, or 18.600) and (18.06, 18.700, or 18.701)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Considers various topics in information theory, including data compression, Shannon's Theorems, and error-correcting codes. Students present and discuss the subject matter. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Enrollment limited.
J. Gaitonde

18.425[J] Foundations of Cryptography
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.5620[J])
Prereq: 6.1220, 6.1400, or 18.4041
Units: 3-0-9
______
A rigorous introduction to modern cryptography. Emphasis on the fundamental cryptographic primitives such as public-key encryption, digital signatures, and pseudo-random number generation, as well as advanced cryptographic primitives such as zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption, and secure multiparty computation.
Staff

18.434 Seminar in Theoretical Computer Science
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 6.1220
Units: 3-0-9
______
Topics vary from year to year. Students present and discuss the subject matter. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Enrollment limited.
D. Minzer

18.435[J] Quantum Computation
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.111[J], 6.6410[J], 8.370[J])
Prereq: 8.05, 18.06, 18.700, 18.701, or 18.C06
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to the theory and practice of quantum computation. Topics covered: physics of information processing; quantum algorithms including the factoring algorithm and Grover's search algorithm; quantum error correction; quantum communication and cryptography. Knowledge of quantum mechanics helpful but not required.
P. Shor

18.436[J] Quantum Information Science
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.6420[J], 8.371[J])
Prereq: 18.435
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (4-163)
______
Examines quantum computation and quantum information. Topics include quantum circuits, the quantum Fourier transform and search algorithms, the quantum operations formalism, quantum error correction, Calderbank-Shor-Steane and stabilizer codes, fault tolerant quantum computation, quantum data compression, quantum entanglement, capacity of quantum channels, and quantum cryptography and the proof of its security. Prior knowledge of quantum mechanics required.
I. Chuang
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

18.437[J] Distributed Algorithms
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.5250[J])
Prereq: 6.1220
Units: 3-0-9
______
Design and analysis of algorithms, emphasizing those suitable for use in distributed networks. Covers various topics including distributed graph algorithms, locality constraints, bandwidth limitations and communication complexity, process synchronization, allocation of computational resources, fault tolerance, and asynchrony. No background in distributed systems required.
M. Ghaffari, N. A. Lynch

18.453 Combinatorial Optimization
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.4531)
Prereq: 18.06, 18.700, or 18.701
Units: 3-0-9
______
Thorough treatment of linear programming and combinatorial optimization. Topics include matching theory, network flow, matroid optimization, and how to deal with NP-hard optimization problems. Prior exposure to discrete mathematics (such as 18.200) helpful.
Staff

18.4531 Combinatorial Optimization
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 18.453)
Prereq: 18.06, 18.700, or 18.701
Units: 3-0-9
______
Thorough treatment of linear programming and combinatorial optimization. Topics include matching theory, network flow, matroid optimization, and how to deal with NP-hard optimization problems. Prior exposure to discrete mathematics (such as 18.200) helpful. Students in Course 18 must register for the undergraduate version, 18.453.
Staff

18.455 Advanced Combinatorial Optimization
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 18.453 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Advanced treatment of combinatorial optimization with an emphasis on combinatorial aspects. Non-bipartite matchings, submodular functions, matroid intersection/union, matroid matching, submodular flows, multicommodity flows, packing and connectivity problems, and other recent developments.
M. X. Goemans

18.456[J] Algebraic Techniques and Semidefinite Optimization
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.7230[J])
Prereq: 6.7210 or 15.093
Units: 3-0-9
______
Theory and computational techniques for optimization problems involving polynomial equations and inequalities with particular, emphasis on the connections with semidefinite optimization. Develops algebraic and numerical approaches of general applicability, with a view towards methods that simultaneously incorporate both elements, stressing convexity-based ideas, complexity results, and efficient implementations. Examples from several engineering areas, in particular systems and control applications. Topics include semidefinite programming, resultants/discriminants, hyperbolic polynomials, Groebner bases, quantifier elimination, and sum of squares.
Staff


left arrow | 18.01-18.499 | 18.50-18.THG | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 20: Biological Engineering
IAP/Spring 2025


20.001 Introduction to Professional Success and Leadership in Biological Engineering
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Interactive introduction to the discipline of Biological Engineering through presentations by alumni practitioners, with additional panels and discussions on skills for professional development. Presentations emphasize the roles of communication through writing and speaking, building and maintaining professional networks, and interpersonal and leadership skills in building successful careers. Provides practical advice about how to prepare for job searches and graduate or professional school applications from an informed viewpoint. Prepares students for UROPs, internships, and selection of BE electives. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students.  
P. Blainey, L. Griffith

20.002 Introduction to Concepts in Biological Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
Lecture: M2 (16-220)
______
Introduction to scientific advances in the field of biological engineering. Topics covered include drug discovery and delivery, applications of genetic engineering, creation and uses of biomaterials, and development of biological technology to mitigate human disease and environmental problems. Discusses each selected topic from different angles, highlighting research conducted from the nano- to macro- level to highlight the breadth of biological engineering applications. Students have the opportunity to select a topic of interest and explore that topic in more depth. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Preference given to first-year students.
B. Meyer
No required or recommended textbooks

20.005 Ethics for Engineers
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 1.082, 2.900, 6.9320, 7.105, 10.01, 16.676
Lecture: M3-5 (66-148) or T3-5 (66-148) or W3-5 (66-148) or W EVE (7-9 PM) (66-148)
______
Explores how to be an ethical engineer. Students examine engineering case studies along with foundational ethical readings, and investigate which ethical approaches are best and how to apply them as engineers. Topics include justice, rights, cost-benefit analysis, safety, bias, genetic engineering, climate change, and the promise and peril of AI. Discussion-based. All sections cover the same core ethical frameworks, but some sections have a particular focus for engineering case studies, such as Computer Science or Bioengineering. Students are eligible to take any section of the course, regardless of their registered course number. The subject is taught in separate sections. For 20.005, students additionally undertake an ethical-technical analysis of a BE-related topic of their choosing.
Fall: D. Lauffenburger, P. Hansen
Spring: P. Hansen, L. Guarente, D. Lauffenburger, K. Hansen
No textbook information available

20.010 Introduction to Experimentation in BE
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Teaches students to ask research questions and use the steps in the experimental method to test hypotheses. Introduces best practices in basic data analysis and interpretation. Additional topics include exploring experimental failures, unexpected results, and troubleshooting. Goal is to prepare students for undergraduate research opportunities and laboratory-based coursework. This is a discussion-based subject and is dependent on group participation. Preference to first- and second-year students.
N. Lyell

20.020 Introduction to Biological Engineering Design Using Synthetic Biology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-4-3
Lecture: TR2 (26-168) Lab: TR3-5 (26-035)
______
Project-based introduction to the engineering of synthetic biological systems. Throughout the term, students develop projects that are responsive to real-world problems of their choosing, and whose solutions depend on biological technologies. Lectures, discussions, and studio exercises introduce components and control of prokaryotic and eukaryotic behavior; DNA synthesis, standards, and abstraction in biological engineering; and issues of human practice, including biological safety, security, ethics and ownership, sharing, and innovation. Students may have the option to continue projects for participation in the iGEM competition. Preference to first-year students.
J. Buck
No textbook information available

20.051 Introduction to NEET: Living Machines
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: Biology (GIR), Calculus II (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 2-2-2
Lecture: WF4 (4-153) Lab: TBA
______
Focuses on physiomimetics: transforming therapeutic strategy and development. Overview of development of therapies for complex diseases, including disease mechanisms in heterogeneous patient populations, developing therapeutic strategies, modeling these in vitro, and testing the therapies. Explores the five essential technological contributions to this process: computational systems biology, synthetic biology, immuno-engineering, microphysiological systems devices/tissue engineering, and microfluidic device engineering for in vitro models and analysis. Introduces disease modeling, patient stratification, and drug development processes, includes extensive examples from industry, and provides context for choosing a concentration track in the Living Machines thread. Weekly lectures from experts in the field supplemented with structured, short projects in each topic area. Limited to 24; preference to students in the NEET Living Machines thread.
Fall: L. Griffith, M. Salek
Spring: L. Griffith, M. Salek
No textbook information available

20.054 NEET - Living Machines Research Immersion
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 20.051
Units arranged
Lecture: W EVE (7 PM) (56-169)
______
A structured lab research experience in a specific Living Machines track. Students identify a project in a participating research lab, on a topic related to the five tracks in the NEET Living Machines program, propose a project related to the drug development theme, and prepare interim and final presentations and reports while conducting the project. Links to industry-sponsored research projects at MIT are encouraged. Project proposal must be submitted and approved in the term prior to enrollment. Limited to students in the NEET Living Machines thread.
Fall: L. Griffith, M. Salek
Spring: L. Griffith, M. Salek
No textbook information available

20.101 Metakaryotic Biology and Epidemiology
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 20.A02)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Introduces non-eukaryotic, "metakaryotic" cells with hollow bell-shaped nuclei that serve as the stem cells of human fetal/juvenile growth and development as well as of tumors and atherosclerotic plaques. Studies the relationship of lifetime growth and mutations of metakaryotic stem cells to age-specific death rates. Considers the biological bases of treatment protocols found to kill metakaryotic cancer stem cells in vitro and in human pancreatic cancers in vivo.
W. Thilly

20.102 Metakaryotic Stem Cells in Carcinogenesis: Origins and Cures
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 20.215)
Prereq: Biology (GIR), Calculus II (GIR), and Chemistry (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Metakaryotic stem cells of organogenesis, wound healing, and the pathogenic lesions of cancers and atherosclerotic plaques. Metakaryotic cell resistance to x-ray- and chemo-therapies. Common drug treatment protocols lethal to metakaryotic cancer stem cells in vivo first clinical trial against pancreatic cancer. Application of a hypermutable/mutator stem cell model to the age-specific mortality from clonal diseases, and the expected responses to metakaryocidal drugs in attempted cure and prevention of tumors or atherosclerotic plaques. Students taking 20.215 responsible for de novo computer modeling.
W. Thilly

20.104[J] Environmental Cancer Risks, Prevention, and Therapy
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.081[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR), Calculus II (GIR), and Chemistry (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Analysis of the history of cancer and vascular disease mortality rates in predominantly European- and African-American US cohorts, 1895-2016, to discover specific historical shifts. Explored in terms of contemporaneously changing environmental risk factors: air-, food- and water-borne chemicals; subclinical infections; diet and lifestyles. Special section on occupational risk factors. Considers the hypotheses that genetic and/or environmental factors affect metakaryotic stem cell mutation rates in fetuses and juveniles and/or their growth rates of preneoplastic in adults.
W. Thilly, R. McCunney

20.106[J] Applied Microbiology
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.084[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR) and Chemistry (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introductory microbiology from a systems perspective - considers microbial diversity and the integration of data from a molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological context to understand the interaction of microbial organisms with their environment. Special emphasis on specific viral, bacterial, and eukaryotic microorganisms and their interaction with animal hosts with focus on contemporary problems in areas such as vaccination, emerging disease, antimicrobial drug resistance, and toxicology.
J. Niles, K. Ribbeck

20.109 Laboratory Fundamentals in Biological Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Institute Lab
Prereq: Biology (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), 6.100B, 18.03, and 20.110
Units: 2-8-5
Lecture: TR11 (4-237) Lab: TR1-5 (56-322) or WF1-5 (56-322)
______
Introduces experimental biochemical and molecular techniques from a quantitative engineering perspective. Experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication form the underpinnings of this subject. In this, students complete discovery-based experimental modules drawn from current technologies and active research projects of BE faculty. Generally, topics include DNA engineering, in which students design, construct, and use genetic material; parts engineering, emphasizing protein design and quantitative assessment of protein performance; systems engineering, which considers genome-wide consequences of genetic perturbations; and biomaterials engineering, in which students use biologically-encoded devices to design and build materials. Enrollment limited; priority to Course 20 majors.
Fall: N. Lyell, B. Engelward, B.Meyer, J. Zhan, H. Xu
Spring: N. Lyell, A. Koehler, A. Belcher, B. Meyer, J. Zhan, H. Xu
No textbook information available

20.110[J] Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 2.772[J])
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), Calculus II (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics I (GIR)) or permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-7
______
Equilibrium properties of macroscopic and microscopic systems. Basic thermodynamics: state of a system, state variables. Work, heat, first law of thermodynamics, thermochemistry. Second and third law of thermodynamics: entropy and its statistical basis, Gibbs function. Chemical equilibrium of reactions in gas and solution phase. Macromolecular structure and interactions in solution. Driving forces for molecular self-assembly. Binding cooperativity, solvation, titration of macromolecules.
M. Birnbaum, P. Blainey, S. Manalis

20.129[J] Biological Circuit Engineering Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Spring) Institute Lab
(Same subject as 6.4880[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR) and Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 2-8-2
Lecture: MW12 (4-163) Lab: MW1-3 (26-035) or MW3-5 (26-035) Recitation: MW1-3 (26-168) or MW3-5 (24-121)
______
Students assemble individual genes and regulatory elements into larger-scale circuits; they experimentally characterize these circuits in yeast cells using quantitative techniques, including flow cytometry, and model their results computationally. Emphasizes concepts and techniques to perform independent experimental and computational synthetic biology research. Discusses current literature and ongoing research in the field of synthetic biology. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Enrollment limited.
J. Niles, R. Weiss, J. Buck
No textbook information available

20.200 Biological Engineering Seminar
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
Lecture: F12 (32-155)
______
Weekly one-hour seminars covering graduate student research and presentations by invited speakers.
Fall: B. Bryson, B. Engelward
Spring: B. Bryson, B. Engelward
No textbook information available

20.201 Fundamentals of Drug Development
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW1.30-3 (56-614) Recitation: F1.30 (56-614)
______
Team-based exploration of the scientific basis for developing new drugs. First portion of term covers fundamentals of target identification, drug discovery, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, regulatory policy, and intellectual property. Industry experts and academic entrepreneurs then present case studies of specific drugs, drug classes, and therapeutic targets. In a term-long project, student teams develop novel therapeutics to solve major unmet medical needs, with a trajectory to a "start-up" company. Culminates with team presentations to a panel of industry and scientific leaders.
Fall: P. C. Dedon, R. Sasisekharan
Spring: P. C. Dedon, R. Sasisekharan
No textbook information available

20.202 In vivo Models: Principles and Practices
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-1-4
______
Selected aspects of anatomy, histology, immuno-cytochemistry, in situ hybridization, physiology, and cell biology of mammalian organisms and their pathogens. Subject material integrated with principles of toxicology, in vivo genetic engineering, and molecular biology. A lab/demonstration period each week involves experiments in anatomy (in vivo), physiology, and microscopy to augment the lectures. Offered first half of spring term.
J. Fox

20.203[J] Neurotechnology in Action
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 9.123[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-6-3
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (46-4062)
______
Offers a fast-paced introduction to numerous laboratory methods at the forefront of modern neurobiology. Comprises a sequence of modules focusing on neurotechnologies that are developed and used by MIT research groups. Each module consists of a background lecture and 1-2 days of firsthand laboratory experience. Topics typically include optical imaging, optogenetics, high throughput neurobiology, MRI/fMRI, advanced electrophysiology, viral and genetic tools, and connectomics.
E. Boyden, M. Jonas
No textbook information available

20.205[J] Principles and Applications of Genetic Engineering for Biotechnology and Neuroscience
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 9.26[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: F10-1 (BROAD INSTITUT)
______
Covers principles underlying current and future genetic engineering approaches, ranging from single cellular organisms to whole animals. Focuses on development and invention of technologies for engineering biological systems at the genomic level, and applications of engineered biological systems for medical and biotechnological needs, with particular emphasis on genetic manipulation of the nervous system. Design projects by students.
F. Zhang
No textbook information available

20.213 Genome Stability and Engineering in the Context of Diseases, Drugs, and Public Health
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 5.07, 7.05, or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW9-11 (56-167)
______
Examines the chemistry and biological consequences of DNA damaging agents present endogenously and in our air, food, and water. In addition, discusses DNA damaging agents that are used as chemotherapeutics. Explores the underlying molecular processes of DNA repair pathways and their roles in cancer, neurological disorders, aging, CRISPR gene editing, and antibody diversification. Investigates how heritable differences in DNA repair capacity, in combination with environmental exposures, impact genome instability and downstream diseases. Emphasis is placed on how these processes relate to environmental justice and public health.
B. P. Engelward
No textbook information available

20.215 Macroepidemiology, Population Genetics, and Stem Cell Biology of Human Clonal Diseases
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 20.102)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and 1.00
Units: 3-0-15
______
Studies the logic and technology needed to discover genetic and environmental risks for common human cancers and vascular diseases. Includes an introduction to metakaryotic stem cell biology. Analyzes large, organized historical public health databases using quantitative cascade computer models that include population stratification of stem cell mutation rates in fetal/juvenile tissues and growth rates in preneoplastic colonies and atherosclerotic plaques. Means to test hypotheses (CAST) that certain genes carry mutations conferring risk for common cancers via genetic analyses in large human cohorts. Involves de novo computer modeling of a lifetime disease experience or test of a student-developed hypothesis.
W. G. Thilly

20.219 Selected Topics in Biological Engineering
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Detailed discussion of selected topics of current interest. Classwork in various areas not covered by regular subjects.
Staff

20.230[J] Immunology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 7.23[J])
(Subject meets with 7.63[J], 20.630[J])
Prereq: 7.06
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (4-370) Recitation: W12 (56-167) or W EVE (7 PM) (66-168) or R4 (66-160) or T4 (66-160)
______
Comprehensive survey of molecular, genetic, and cellular aspects of the immune system. Topics include innate and adaptive immunity; cells and organs of the immune system; hematopoiesis; immunoglobulin, T cell receptor, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins and genes; development and functions of B and T lymphocytes; immune responses to infections and tumors; hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, and immunodeficiencies. Particular attention to the development and function of the immune system as a whole, as studied by modern methods and techniques. Students taking graduate version explore the subject in greater depth, including study of recent primary literature.
S.Spranger, M. Birnbaum
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

20.260 Computational Analysis of Biological Data
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 20.460)
Prereq: 6.100A or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR1-3 (16-220)
______
Presents foundational methods for analysis of complex biological datasets. Covers fundamental concepts in probability, statistics, and linear algebra underlying computational tools that enable generation of biological insights. Assignments focus on practical examples spanning basic science and medical applications. Assumes basic knowledge of calculus and programming (experience with MATLAB, Python, or R is recommended). Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
D. Lauffenburger, F. White
No textbook information available

20.265 Genetics for Biological Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 6.100A or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
______
Covers topics in genetics from an engineering perspective. Designed to be taken before, concurrently with, or after a traditional genetics class. Focuses primarily on the quantitative methods and algorithms used in genetics and genomics. Provides a strong foundation in genomics and bioinformatics and prepares students, through real-world problem-solving, for upper-level classes in those topics. Basics of modern genomics tools and approaches -- including RNAseq, high-throughout genome sequencing, genome-wide association studies, metagenomics, and others -- presented. Requires some experience with Python programming.
Staff

20.305[J] Principles of Synthetic Biology
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.8721[J])
(Subject meets with 6.8720[J], 20.405[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the basics of synthetic biology, including quantitative cellular network characterization and modeling. Considers the discovery and genetic factoring of useful cellular activities into reusable functions for design. Emphasizes the principles of biomolecular system design and diagnosis of designed systems. Illustrates cutting-edge applications in synthetic biology and enhances skills in analysis and design of synthetic biological applications. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. Weiss

20.309[J] Instrumentation and Measurement for Biological Systems
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
(Same subject as 2.673[J])
(Subject meets with 20.409)
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), Physics II (GIR), 6.100B, and 18.03) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-6-3
Lecture: TRF12 (4-237) Lab: TBA
______
Sensing and measurement aimed at quantitative molecular/cell/tissue analysis in terms of genetic, biochemical, and biophysical properties. Methods include light and fluorescence microscopies, and electro-mechanical probes (atomic force microscopy, optical traps, MEMS devices). Application of statistics, probability, signal and noise analysis, and Fourier techniques to experimental data. Enrollment limited; preference to Course 20 undergraduates.
Fall: M. Jonas, S. Wasserman
Spring: E. Boyden, A. Hansen, P. Brooks, M. Jonas, S. Wasserman
No textbook information available

20.310[J] Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.797[J], 3.053[J], 6.4840[J])
(Subject meets with 2.798[J], 3.971[J], 6.4842[J], 10.537[J], 20.410[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR) and 18.03
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (4-237) Recitation: TBA
______
Develops and applies scaling laws and the methods of continuum mechanics to biomechanical phenomena over a range of length scales. Topics include structure of tissues and the molecular basis for macroscopic properties; chemical and electrical effects on mechanical behavior; cell mechanics, motility and adhesion; biomembranes; biomolecular mechanics and molecular motors. Experimental methods for probing structures at the tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Bathe, P. So, R. Raman
No textbook information available

20.315 Physical Biology
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 20.415)
Prereq: 5.60, 20.110, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 8.241
______
Focuses on current major research topics in quantitative, physical biology. Covers synthetic structural biology, synthetic cell biology, microbial systems biology and evolution, cellular decision making, neuronal circuits, and development and morphogenesis. Emphasizes current motivation and historical background, state-of-the-art measurement methodologies and techniques, and quantitative physical modeling frameworks. Experimental techniques include structural biology, next-generation sequencing, fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy, and quantitative biochemistry. Modeling approaches include stochastic rate equations, statistical thermodynamics, and statistical inference. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. 20.315 and 20.415 meet with 8.241 when offered concurrently.
M. Bathe

20.320 Analysis of Biomolecular and Cellular Systems
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 6.100B, 18.03, and 20.110; Coreq: 5.07 or 7.05
Units: 4-0-8
______
Analysis of molecular and cellular processes across a hierarchy of scales, including genetic, molecular, cellular, and cell population levels. Topics include gene sequence analysis, molecular modeling, metabolic and gene regulation networks, signal transduction pathways and cell populations in tissues. Emphasis on experimental methods, quantitative analysis, and computational modeling.
Lauffenburger, Stark, White

20.330[J] Fields, Forces and Flows in Biological Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.793[J], 6.4830[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR), Physics II (GIR), and 18.03
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MWF11 (4-163) Recitation: M12 (56-191) or T4 (56-167) or W12 (56-154) or R4 (56-162) +final
______
Introduction to electric fields, fluid flows, transport phenomena and their application to biological systems. Flux and continuity laws, Maxwell's equations, electro-quasistatics, electro-chemical-mechanical driving forces, conservation of mass and momentum, Navier-Stokes flows, and electrokinetics. Applications include biomolecular transport in tissues, electrophoresis, and microfluidics.
J. Han, S. Manalis
No textbook information available

20.334 Biological Systems Modeling
______

Undergrad (Fall); first half of term
Prereq: 20.330 or permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-5
______
Practices the use of modern numerical analysis tools (e.g., COMSOL) for biological systems with multi-physics behavior. Covers modeling of diffusion, reaction, convection and other transport mechanisms. Analysis of microfluidic devices as examples. Discusses practical issues and challenges in numerical modeling. No prior knowledge of modeling software required. Includes weekly modeling homework and one final modeling project.
J. Han

20.345 Bioinstrumentation Project Lab
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 20.309, (Biology (GIR) and (2.004 or 6.3000)), or permission of instructor
Units: 2-7-3
______
In-depth examination of instrumentation design, principles and techniques for studying biological systems, from single molecules to entire organisms. Lectures cover optics, advanced microscopy techniques, electronics for biological measurement, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, MEMs, microfluidic devices, and limits of detection. Students select two lab exercises during the first half of the semester and complete a final design project in the second half. Lab emphasizes design process and skillful realization of a robust system. Enrollment limited; preference to Course 20 majors and minors.
E. Boyden, A. Jasanoff, P. So, M. Jonas, J. Sutton, S. Wasserman

20.352 Principles of Neuroengineering
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 9.422[J], 20.452[J], MAS.881[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers how to innovate technologies for brain analysis and engineering, for accelerating the basic understanding of the brain, and leading to new therapeutic insight and inventions. Focuses on using physical, chemical and biological principles to understand technology design criteria governing ability to observe and alter brain structure and function. Topics include optogenetics, noninvasive brain imaging and stimulation, nanotechnologies, stem cells and tissue engineering, and advanced molecular and structural imaging technologies. Includes design projects. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Designed for students with engineering maturity who are ready for design.
E. S. Boyden, III

20.361[J] Molecular and Engineering Aspects of Biotechnology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 7.37[J], 10.441[J])
Prereq: (7.06 and (2.005, 3.012, 5.60, or 20.110)) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 7.371
______
Covers biological and bioengineering principles underlying the development and therapeutic use of recombinant proteins and stem cells; glycoengineering of recombinant proteins; normal and pathological signaling by growth factors and their receptors; receptor trafficking; monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics; protein pharmacology and delivery; stem cell-derived tissues as therapeutics; RNA therapeutics; combinatorial protein engineering; and new antitumor drugs.
Staff

20.363[J] Biomaterials Science and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 3.055[J])
(Subject meets with 3.963[J], 20.463[J])
Prereq: 20.110 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers, at a molecular scale, the analysis and design of materials used in contact with biological systems, and biomimetic strategies aimed at creating new materials based on principles found in biology. Topics include molecular interaction between bio- and synthetic molecules and surfaces; design, synthesis, and processing approaches for materials that control cell functions; and application of materials science to problems in tissue engineering, drug delivery, vaccines, and cell-guiding surfaces. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
K. Ribbeck

20.365 Engineering the Immune System in Cancer and Beyond
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 20.465)
Prereq: (5.60 or 20.110) and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR9-10.30 (16-220)
______
Examines strategies in clinical and preclinical development for manipulating the immune system to treat and protect against disease. Begins with brief review of immune system. Discusses interaction of tumors with the immune system, followed by approaches by which the immune system can be modulated to attack cancer. Also covers strategies based in biotechnology, chemistry, materials science, and molecular biology to induce immune responses to treat infection, transplantation, and autoimmunity. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Stark, D. Witrrup
No required or recommended textbooks

20.370[J] Cellular Neurophysiology and Computing
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.791[J], 6.4810[J], 9.21[J])
(Subject meets with 2.794[J], 6.4812[J], 9.021[J], 20.470[J], HST.541[J])
Prereq: (Physics II (GIR), 18.03, and (2.005, 6.2000, 6.3000, 10.301, or 20.110)) or permission of instructor
Units: 5-2-5
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Integrated overview of the biophysics of cells from prokaryotes to neurons, with a focus on mass transport and electrical signal generation across cell membrane. First third of course focuses on mass transport through membranes: diffusion, osmosis, chemically mediated, and active transport. Second third focuses on electrical properties of cells: ion transport to action potential generation and propagation in electrically excitable cells. Synaptic transmission. Electrical properties interpreted via kinetic and molecular properties of single voltage-gated ion channels. Final third focuses on biophysics of synaptic transmission and introduction to neural computing. Laboratory and computer exercises illustrate the concepts. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Preference to juniors and seniors.
Staff

20.373 Foundations of Cell Therapy Manufacturing
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 20.473)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Seminar examines cell therapy manufacturing, the ex vivo production of human cells to be delivered to humans as a product for medical benefit. Includes a review of cell biology and immunology. Addresses topics such as governmental regulations applying to cell therapy production; the manufacture of cell-based therapeutics, including cell culture unit operations, genetic engineering or editing of cells; process engineering of cell therapy products; and the analytics of cell therapy manufacturing processes. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

20.375 Applied Developmental Biology and Tissue Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 20.475)
Prereq: (7.06, 20.320, and (7.003 or 20.109)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Addresses the integration of engineering and biology design principles to create human tissues and organs for regenerative medicine to drug development. Provides an overview of embryogenesis, how morphogenic phenomena are governed by biochemical and biophysical cues. Analyzes <em>in vitro</em> generation of human brain, gut, and other organoids from stem cells. Studies the roles of biomaterials and microreactors in improving organoid formation and function; organoid use in modeling disease and physiology <em>in vitro</em>; and engineering and biological principles of reconstructing tissues and organs from postnatal donor cells using biomaterials scaffolds and bioreactors. Includes select applications, such as liver disease, brain disorders, and others. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
L. Griffith, D. Lauffenburger

20.380 Biological Engineering Design
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: 7.06, 20.320, and 20.330
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: TR9-12 (56-614)
______
Illustrates how knowledge and principles of biology, biochemistry, and engineering are integrated to create new products for societal benefit. Uses case study format to examine recently developed products of pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries: how a product evolves from initial idea, through patents, testing, evaluation, production, and marketing. Emphasizes scientific and engineering principles, as well as the responsibility scientists, engineers, and business executives have for the consequences of their technology. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Enrollment limited; preference to Course 20 undergraduates.
Fall: J. Collins, A. Koehler, J. Buck, H. Xu
Spring: A. Belcher, K. Metcalf-Pate, P. Bhargava
No textbook information available

20.381 Biological Engineering Design II
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 20.380 or permission of instructor
Units: 0-12-0
Meets in 26-035. TBA.
______
Continuation of 20.380 that focuses on practical implementation of design proposals. Student teams choose a feasible scope of work related to their 20.380 design proposals and execute it in the lab.
J. Buck
No textbook information available

20.385 Design in Synthetic Biology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: (20.020, 20.109, and 20.320) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-3
Lecture: TR12 (66-160) Lab: TR3-5 (26-035)
______
Provides an understanding of the state of research in synthetic biology and development of project management skills. Critical evaluation of primary research literature covering a range of approaches to the design, modeling and programming of cellular behaviors. Focuses on developing the skills needed to read, present and discuss primary research literature, and to manage and lead small teams. Students mentor a small undergraduate team of 20.020 students. Open to advanced students with appropriate background in biology. Students may have the option to continue projects for participation in the iGEM competition.
J. Buck
No textbook information available

20.390[J] Computational Systems Biology: Deep Learning in the Life Sciences
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.8711[J])
(Subject meets with 6.8710[J], 20.490, HST.506[J])
Prereq: (6.100B and 7.05) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (10-250)
______
Presents innovative approaches to computational problems in the life sciences, focusing on deep learning-based approaches with comparisons to conventional methods. Topics include protein-DNA interaction, chromatin accessibility, regulatory variant interpretation, medical image understanding, medical record understanding, therapeutic design, and experiment design (the choice and interpretation of interventions). Focuses on machine learning model selection, robustness, and interpretation. Teams complete a multidisciplinary final research project using TensorFlow or other framework. Provides a comprehensive introduction to each life sciences problem, but relies upon students understanding probabilistic problem formulations. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. Alm, B. Berger
No textbook information available

20.405[J] Principles of Synthetic Biology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.8720[J])
(Subject meets with 6.8721[J], 20.305[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the basics of synthetic biology, including quantitative cellular network characterization and modeling. Considers the discovery and genetic factoring of useful cellular activities into reusable functions for design. Emphasizes the principles of biomolecular system design and diagnosis of designed systems. Illustrates cutting-edge applications in synthetic biology and enhances skills in analysis and design of synthetic biological applications. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. Weiss

20.409 Biological Engineering II: Instrumentation and Measurement
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with 2.673[J], 20.309[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-7-3
Lecture: TRF12 (4-237) Lab: TBA
______
Sensing and measurement aimed at quantitative molecular/cell/tissue analysis in terms of genetic, biochemical, and biophysical properties. Methods include light and fluorescence microscopies, electronic circuits, and electro-mechanical probes (atomic force microscopy, optical traps, MEMS devices). Application of statistics, probability, signal and noise analysis, and Fourier techniques to experimental data. Limited to 5 graduate students.
E. Boyden, A. Hansen, P. Brooks, M. Jonas, S. Wasserman
No textbook information available

20.410[J] Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.798[J], 3.971[J], 6.4842[J], 10.537[J])
(Subject meets with 2.797[J], 3.053[J], 6.4840[J], 20.310[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR) and 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (4-237)
______
Develops and applies scaling laws and the methods of continuum mechanics to biomechanical phenomena over a range of length scales. Topics include structure of tissues and the molecular basis for macroscopic properties; chemical and electrical effects on mechanical behavior; cell mechanics, motility and adhesion; biomembranes; biomolecular mechanics and molecular motors. Experimental methods for probing structures at the tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Bathe, P. So, R. Raman
No textbook information available

20.415 Physical Biology
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 20.315)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 8.241
______
Focuses on current major research topics in quantitative, physical biology. Topics include synthetic structural biology, synthetic cell biology, microbial systems biology and evolution, cellular decision making, neuronal circuits, and development and morphogenesis. Emphasizes current motivation and historical background, state-of-the-art measurement methodologies and techniques, and quantitative physical modeling frameworks. Experimental techniques include structural biology, next-generation sequencing, fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy, and quantitative biochemistry. Modeling approaches include stochastic rate equations, statistical thermodynamics, and statistical inference. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. 20.315 and 20.415 meet with 8.241 when offered concurrently.
Staff

20.416[J] Topics in Biophysics and Physical Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 7.74[J], 8.590[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
Provides broad exposure to research in biophysics and physical biology, with emphasis on the critical evaluation of scientific literature. Weekly meetings include in-depth discussion of scientific literature led by distinct faculty on active research topics. Each session also includes brief discussion of non-research topics including effective presentation skills, writing papers and fellowship proposals, choosing scientific and technical research topics, time management, and scientific ethics.
J. Gore, N. Fakhri

20.420[J] Principles of Molecular Bioengineering
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 10.538[J])
Prereq: 7.06 and 18.03
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to the mechanistic analysis and engineering of biomolecules and biomolecular systems. Covers methods for measuring, modeling, and manipulating systems, including biophysical experimental tools, computational modeling approaches, and molecular design. Equips students to take systematic and quantitative approaches to the investigation of a wide variety of biological phenomena.
A. Jasanoff, E. Fraenkel

20.430[J] Fields, Forces, and Flows in Biological Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.795[J], 6.4832[J], 10.539[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Molecular diffusion, diffusion-reaction, conduction, convection in biological systems; fields in heterogeneous media; electrical double layers; Maxwell stress tensor, electrical forces in physiological systems. Fluid and solid continua: equations of motion useful for porous, hydrated biological tissues. Case studies of membrane transport, electrode interfaces, electrical, mechanical, and chemical transduction in tissues, convective-diffusion/reaction, electrophoretic, electroosmotic flows in tissues/MEMs, and ECG. Electromechanical and physicochemical interactions in cells and biomaterials; musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and other biological and clinical examples. Prior undergraduate coursework in transport recommended.
C. Buie, A. Hansen

20.440 Analysis of Biological Networks
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 20.420 and permission of instructor
Units: 6-0-9
Lecture: MW2-3.30 (32-124) Recitation: F2-3.30 (32-124)
______
Explores computational and experimental approaches to analyzing complex biological networks and systems. Includes genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and microscopy. Stresses the practical considerations required when designing and performing experiments. Also focuses on selection and implementation of appropriate computational tools for processing, visualizing, and integrating different types of experimental data, including supervised and unsupervised machine learning methods, and multi-omics modelling. Students use statistical methods to test hypotheses and assess the validity of conclusions. In problem sets, students read current literature, develop their skills in Python and R, and interpret quantitative results in a biological manner. In the second half of term, students work in groups to complete a project in which they apply the computational approaches covered.
B. Bryson, P. Blainey
No textbook information available

20.445[J] Methods and Problems in Microbiology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.86[J], 7.492[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Students will read and discuss primary literature covering key areas of microbial research with emphasis on methods and approaches used to understand and manipulate microbes. Preference to first-year Microbiology and Biology students.
M. Laub, Staff

20.446[J] Microbial Genetics and Evolution
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.87[J], 7.493[J], 12.493[J])
Prereq: 7.03, 7.05, or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Covers aspects of microbial genetic and genomic analyses, central dogma, horizontal gene transfer, and evolution.
A. Grossman, O. Cordero

20.450 Applied Microbiology
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: (20.420 and 20.440) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Compares the complex molecular and cellular interactions in health and disease between commensal microbial communities, pathogens and the human or animal host. Special focus is given to current research on microbe/host interactions, infection of significant importance to public health, and chronic infectious disease. Classwork will include lecture, but emphasize critical evaluation and class discussion of recent scientific papers, and the development of new research agendas in the fields presented.
J. Niles, K. Ribbeck

20.452[J] Principles of Neuroengineering
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 9.422[J], MAS.881[J])
(Subject meets with 20.352)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers how to innovate technologies for brain analysis and engineering, for accelerating the basic understanding of the brain, and leading to new therapeutic insight and inventions. Focuses on using physical, chemical and biological principles to understand technology design criteria governing ability to observe and alter brain structure and function. Topics include optogenetics, noninvasive brain imaging and stimulation, nanotechnologies, stem cells and tissue engineering, and advanced molecular and structural imaging technologies. Includes design projects. Designed for students with engineering maturity who are ready for design. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. S. Boyden, III

20.454[J] Revolutionary Ventures: How to Invent and Deploy Transformative Technologies
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 9.455[J], 15.128[J], MAS.883[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-7
______
Seminar on envisioning and building ideas and organizations to accelerate engineering revolutions. Focuses on emerging technology domains, such as neurotechnology, imaging, cryotechnology, gerontechnology, and bio-and-nano fabrication. Draws on historical examples as well as live case studies of existing or emerging organizations, including labs, institutes, startups, and companies. Goals range from accelerating basic science to developing transformative products or therapeutics. Each class is devoted to a specific area, often with invited speakers, exploring issues from the deeply technical through the strategic. Individually or in small groups, students prototype new ventures aimed at inventing and deploying revolutionary technologies.
E. Boyden, J. Bonsen, J. Jacobson

20.460 Computational Analysis of Biological Data
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 20.260)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR1-3 (16-220)
______
Presents foundational methods for analysis of complex biological datasets. Covers fundamental concepts in probability, statistics, and linear algebra underlying computational tools that enable generation of biological insights. Assignments focus on practical examples spanning basic science and medical applications. Assumes basic knowledge of calculus and programming (experience with MATLAB, Python, or R is recommended). Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
D. Lauffenburger, F. White
No textbook information available

20.463[J] Biomaterials Science and Engineering
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 3.963[J])
(Subject meets with 3.055[J], 20.363[J])
Prereq: 20.110 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers, at a molecular scale, the analysis and design of materials used in contact with biological systems, and biomimetic strategies aimed at creating new materials based on principles found in biology. Topics include molecular interaction between bio- and synthetic molecules and surfaces; design, synthesis, and processing approaches for materials that control cell functions; and application of materials science to problems in tissue engineering, drug delivery, vaccines, and cell-guiding surfaces. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
K. Ribbeck

20.465 Engineering the Immune System in Cancer and Beyond
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 20.365)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR9-10.30 (16-220)
______
Examines strategies in clinical and preclinical development for manipulating the immune system to treat and protect against disease. Begins with brief review of immune system. Discusses interaction of tumors with the immune system, followed by approaches by which the immune system can be modulated to attack cancer. Also covers strategies based in biotechnology, chemistry, materials science, and molecular biology to induce immune responses to treat infection, transplantation, and autoimmunity. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Stark, D. Wittrup
No textbook information available

20.470[J] Cellular Neurophysiology and Computing
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.794[J], 6.4812[J], 9.021[J], HST.541[J])
(Subject meets with 2.791[J], 6.4810[J], 9.21[J], 20.370[J])
Prereq: (Physics II (GIR), 18.03, and (2.005, 6.2000, 6.3000, 10.301, or 20.110)) or permission of instructor
Units: 5-2-5
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Integrated overview of the biophysics of cells from prokaryotes to neurons, with a focus on mass transport and electrical signal generation across cell membrane. First third of course focuses on mass transport through membranes: diffusion, osmosis, chemically mediated, and active transport. Second third focuses on electrical properties of cells: ion transport to action potential generation and propagation in electrically excitable cells. Synaptic transmission. Electrical properties interpreted via kinetic and molecular properties of single voltage-gated ion channels. Final third focuses on biophysics of synaptic transmission and introduction to neural computing. Laboratory and computer exercises illustrate the concepts. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
Staff

20.473 Foundations of Cell Therapy Manufacturing
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 20.373)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Seminar examines cell therapy manufacturing, the ex vivo production of human cells to be delivered to humans as a product for medical benefit. Includes a review of cell biology and immunology. Addresses topics such as governmental regulations applying to cell therapy production; the manufacture of cell-based therapeutics, including cell culture unit operations, genetic engineering or editing of cells; process engineering of cell therapy products; and the analytics of cell therapy manufacturing processes. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

20.475 Applied Developmental Biology and Tissue Engineering
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 20.375)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
This subject addresses the integration of engineering and biology design principles to create human tissues and organs for regenerative medicine to drug development. Overview of embryogenesis; how morphogenic phenomena are governed by biochemical and biophysical cues. Analysis of in vitro generation of human brain, gut, and other organoids from stem cells. Roles of biomaterials and microreactors in improving organoid formation and function. Organoid use in modeling disease and physiology in vitro. Engineering and biological principles of reconstructing tissues and organs from postnatal donor cells using biomaterials scaffolds and bioreactors. Select applications such as liver disease, brain disorders, and others. Graduate students will have additional assignments.
L. Griffith, D. Lauffenburger

20.486[J] Case Studies and Strategies in Drug Discovery and Development
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 7.549[J], 15.137[J], HST.916[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Aims to develop appreciation for the stages of drug discovery and development, from target identification, to the submission of preclinical and clinical data to regulatory authorities for marketing approval. Following introductory lectures on the process of drug development, students working in small teams analyze how one of four new drugs or drug candidates traversed the discovery/development landscape. For each case, an outside expert from the sponsoring drug company or pivotal clinical trial principal investigator provides guidance and critiques the teams' presentations to the class.
A. W. Wood

20.487[J] Optical Microscopy and Spectroscopy for Biology and Medicine
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 2.715[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the theory and the design of optical microscopy and its applications in biology and medicine. The course starts from an overview of basic optical principles allowing an understanding of microscopic image formation and common contrast modalities such as dark field, phase, and DIC. Advanced microscopy imaging techniques such as total internal reflection, confocal, and multiphoton will also be discussed. Quantitative analysis of biochemical microenvironment using spectroscopic techniques based on fluorescence, second harmonic, Raman signals will be covered. We will also provide an overview of key image processing techniques for microscopic data.
Staff

20.490 Computational Systems Biology: Deep Learning in the Life Sciences
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 6.8710[J], 6.8711[J], 20.390[J], HST.506[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR) and (6.041 or 18.600)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (10-250)
______
Presents innovative approaches to computational problems in the life sciences, focusing on deep learning-based approaches with comparisons to conventional methods. Topics include protein-DNA interaction, chromatin accessibility, regulatory variant interpretation, medical image understanding, medical record understanding, therapeutic design, and experiment design (the choice and interpretation of interventions). Focuses on machine learning model selection, robustness, and interpretation. Teams complete a multidisciplinary final research project using TensorFlow or other framework. Provides a comprehensive introduction to each life sciences problem, but relies upon students understanding probabilistic problem formulations. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. Alm, B. Berger
No textbook information available

20.507[J] Introduction to Biological Chemistry
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 5.07[J])
Prereq: 5.12
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 7.05
______
Chemical and physical properties of the cell and its building blocks. Structures of proteins and principles of catalysis. The chemistry of organic/inorganic cofactors required for chemical transformations within the cell. Basic principles of metabolism and regulation in pathways, including glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, fatty acid synthesis/degradation, pentose phosphate pathway, Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, DNA replication, and transcription and translation.
X. Wang, O. Johnson

20.535[J] Protein Engineering
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 10.535[J])
Prereq: 18.03 and (5.07 or 7.05)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the field of protein engineering. Develops understanding of key biophysical chemistry concepts in protein structure/function and their applications. Explores formulation of simple kinetic, statistical, and transport models for directed evolution and drug biodistribution. Students read and critically discuss seminal papers from the literature.
K. D. Wittrup

20.554[J] Advances in Chemical Biology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 5.54[J], 7.540[J])
Prereq: 5.07, 5.13, 7.06, and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to current research at the interface of chemistry, biology, and bioengineering. Topics include imaging of biological processes, metabolic pathway engineering, protein engineering, mechanisms of DNA damage, RNA structure and function, macromolecular machines, protein misfolding and disease, metabolomics, and methods for analyzing signaling network dynamics. Lectures are interspersed with class discussions and student presentations based on current literature.
L. Kiessling, O. Johnson

20.560 Statistics for Biological Engineering
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Provides basic tools for analyzing experimental data, interpreting statistical reports in the literature, and reasoning under uncertain situations. Topics include probability theory, statistical tests, data exploration, Bayesian statistics, and machine learning. Emphasizes discussion and hands-on learning. Experience with MATLAB, Python, or R recommended.
E. Alm, D. Lauffenburger

20.561[J] Eukaryotic Cell Biology: Principles and Practice
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 7.61[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Emphasizes methods and logic used to analyze structure and function of eukaryotic cells in diverse systems (e.g., yeast, fly, worm, mouse, human; development, stem cells, neurons). Combines lectures and in-depth roundtable discussions of literature readings with the active participation of faculty experts. Focuses on membranes (structure, function, traffic), organelles, the cell surface, signal transduction, cytoskeleton, cell motility and extracellular matrix. Ranges from basic studies to applications to human disease, while stressing critical analysis of experimental approaches. Enrollment limited.
M. Krieger, M. Yaffe

20.586[J] Science and Business of Biotechnology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 7.546[J], 15.480[J])
Prereq: None. Coreq: 15.401; permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: R EVE (3-6 PM) (Whitehead-AUDITORIUM) Recitation: T4 (68-180) or T EVE (5 PM) (68-180)
______
Covers the new types of drugs and other therapeutics in current practice and under development, the financing and business structures of early-stage biotechnology companies, and the evaluation of their risk/reward profiles. Includes a series of live case studies with industry leaders of both established and emerging biotechnology companies as guest speakers, focusing on the underlying science and engineering as well as core financing and business issues. Students must possess a basic background in cellular and molecular biology.
J. Chen, A. Koehler, A. Lo, H. Lodish
No textbook information available

20.630[J] Immunology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 7.63[J])
(Subject meets with 7.23[J], 20.230[J])
Prereq: 7.06 and permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (4-370) Recitation: W12 (56-167) or W EVE (7 PM) (66-168) or R4 (66-160) or T4 (66-160)
______
Comprehensive survey of molecular, genetic, and cellular aspects of the immune system. Topics include innate and adaptive immunity; cells and organs of the immune system; hematopoiesis; immunoglobulin, T cell receptor, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins and genes; development and functions of B and T lymphocytes; immune responses to infections and tumors; hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, and immunodeficiencies. Particular attention to the development and function of the immune system as a whole, as studied by modern methods and techniques. Students taking graduate version explore the subject in greater depth, including study of recent primary literature.
S. Spranger, M. Birnbaum
No textbook information available

20.902 Independent Study in Biological Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a faculty member. Projects require prior approval, as well as a substantive paper. Minimum 12 units required.
Fall: D. Fares
Spring: D. Fares
No required or recommended textbooks

20.903 Independent Study in Biological Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a faculty member. Projects require prior approval, as well as a substantive paper. Minimum 6-12 units required.
Fall: D. Fares
Spring: D. Fares
No required or recommended textbooks

20.920 Practical Work Experience
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 0-1-0 [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For Course 20 students participating in off-campus professional experiences in biological engineering. Before registering for this subject, students must have an offer from a company or organization and must identify a BE advisor. Upon completion, student must submit a letter from the company or organization describing the experience, along with a substantive final report from the student approved by the MIT advisor. Subject to departmental approval. Consult departmental undergraduate office.
Fall: D. Fares
IAP: D. Fares
Spring: D. Fares
No required or recommended textbooks

20.930[J] Research Experience in Biopharma
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 7.930[J], CSB.930[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-10-0
______
Provides exposure to industrial science and develops skills necessary for success in such an environment. Under the guidance of an industrial mentor, students participate in on-site research at a local biopharmaceutical company where they observe and participate in industrial science. Serves as a real-time case study to internalize the factors that shape R&D in industry, including the purpose and scope of a project, key decision points in the past and future, and strategies for execution. Students utilize company resources and work with a scientific team to contribute to the goals of their assigned project; they then present project results to the company and class, emphasizing the logic that dictated their work and their ideas for future directions. Lecture component focuses on professional development.
Burge, Engelward, Meyer

20.945 Practical Experience in Biological Engineering
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Prereq: None
Units: 0-1-0 [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For Course 20 doctoral students participating in off-campus research, academic experiences, or internships in biological engineering. For internship experiences, an offer of employment from a company or organization is required prior to enrollment; employers must document work accomplished. A written report is required upon completion of a minimum of four weeks of off-campus experience. Proposals must be approved by department.
Fall: F. White
IAP: F. White
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

20.950 Research Problems in Biological Engineering
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Directed research in the fields of bioengineering and environmental health. Limited to BE students.
Fall: D. Fares
IAP: D. Fares
Spring: D. Fares
No required or recommended textbooks

20.951 Thesis Proposal
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-24-0 [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Thesis proposal research and presentation to the thesis committee.
Fall: D. Fares
Spring: D. Fares
No required or recommended textbooks

20.960 Teaching Experience in Biological Engineering
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
For qualified graduate students interested in teaching. Tutorial, laboratory, or classroom teaching under the supervision of a faculty member. Enrollment limited by availability of suitable teaching assignments.
Fall: D. Fares
Spring: D. Fares
No required or recommended textbooks

20.BME Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Individual research project with biomedical or clinical focus, arranged with appropriate faculty member or approved advisor. Forms and instructions for the proposal and final report are available in the BE Undergraduate Office.
Fall: J. Han
Spring: J. Han
No textbook information available

20.C01[J] Machine Learning for Molecular Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 3.C01[J], 10.C01[J])
(Subject meets with 3.C51[J], 7.C01, 7.C51, 10.C51[J], 20.C51[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), 6.100A, and 6.C01
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3 (45-230)
______
Building on core material in 6.C01, provides an introduction to the use of machine learning to solve problems arising in the science and engineering of biology, chemistry, and materials. Equips students to design and implement machine learning approaches to challenges such as analysis of omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, etc.), microscopy, spectroscopy, or crystallography data and design of new molecules and materials such as drugs, catalysts, polymer, alloys, ceramics, and proteins. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C01.
R. Gomez-Bombarelli, C. Coley, E. Fraenkel, J. Davis
No textbook information available

20.C51[J] Machine Learning for Molecular Engineering
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 3.C51[J], 10.C51[J])
(Subject meets with 3.C01[J], 7.C01, 7.C51, 10.C01[J], 20.C01[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), 6.100A, and 6.C51
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3 (45-230)
______
Building on core material in 6.C51, provides an introduction to the use of machine learning to solve problems arising in the science and engineering of biology, chemistry, and materials. Equips students to design and implement machine learning approaches to challenges such as analysis of omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, etc.), microscopy, spectroscopy, or crystallography data and design of new molecules and materials such as drugs, catalysts, polymer, alloys, ceramics, and proteins. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C51.
R. Gomez-Bombarelli, C. Coley, E. Fraenkel, J. Davis
No textbook information available

20.EPE UPOP Engineering Practice Experience
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.EPE, 2.EPE, 3.EPE, 6.EPE, 8.EPE, 10.EPE, 15.EPE, 16.EPE, 20.EPE, 22.EPE)
Prereq: None
Units: 0-0-1 [P/D/F]
Lab: M11 (3-333) or M1 (1-390) or T1 (3-333) or F11 (3-333) or F1 (3-333)
______
Provides students with skills to prepare for and excel in the world of industry. Emphasizes practical application of career theory and professional development concepts. Introduces students to relevant and timely resources for career development, provides students with tools to embark on a successful internship search, and offers networking opportunities with employers and MIT alumni. Students work in groups, led by industry mentors, to improve their resumes and cover letters, interviewing skills, networking abilities, project management, and ability to give and receive feedback. Objective is for students to be able to adapt and contribute effectively to their future employment organizations. A total of two units of credit is awarded for completion of the fall and subsequent spring term offerings. Application required; consult UPOP website for more information.
Fall: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
IAP: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
Spring: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
No textbook information available

20.EPW UPOP Engineering Practice Workshop
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring)
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.EPW, 2.EPW, 3.EPW, 6.EPW, 10.EPW, 16.EPW, 20.EPW, 22.EPW)
Prereq: 2.EPE
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
Lab: TBA
______
Provides sophomores across all majors with opportunities to develop and practice communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to become successful professionals in the workplace, particularly in preparation for their summer industry internship. This immersive, multi-day Team Training Workshop (TTW) is comprised of experiential learning modules focused on expanding skills in areas that employers report being most valuable in the workplace. Modules are led by MIT faculty with the help of MIT alumni and other senior industry professionals. Skills applied through creative simulations, team problem-solving challenges, oral presentations, and networking sessions with prospective employers. Enrollment limited to those in the UPOP program.
Fall: M. Vazquez Sanchez, T. DeRoche
IAP: M.Vazquez Sanchez, T.DeRoche
Spring: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
No textbook information available

20.S900 Special Subject in Biological Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Detailed discussion of selected topics of current interest. Classwork in various areas not covered by regular subjects.
Fall: E. Alm
Spring: D. Fares
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

20.S901 Special Subject in Biological Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR9.30-11 (36-155) Lab: M12-2 (68-077) or M3-5 (68-077) +final
______
Detailed discussion of selected topics of current interest. Classwork in various areas not covered by regular subjects.
Fall: B. Bryson
Spring: N. Lyell
No textbook information available

20.S940 Special Subject in Biological Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Detailed discussion of selected topics of current interest. Classwork in various areas not covered by regular subjects.
Fall: J. Han
Spring: Staff
No textbook information available

20.S947 Special Subject in Biological Engineering
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Detailed discussion of selected topics of current interest. Classwork in various areas not covered by regular subjects.
Fall: J. Han
Spring: Staff
No textbook information available

20.S948 Special Subject in Biological Engineering
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Detailed discussion of selected topics of current interest. Classwork in various areas not covered by regular subjects.
Fall: E. Alm
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

20.S949 Special Subject in Biological Engineering
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Detailed discussion of selected topics of current interest. Classwork in various areas not covered by regular subjects.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

20.S952 Special Subject in Biological Engineering
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
Lecture: R EVE (4-6 PM) (32-155)
______
Detailed discussion of selected topics of current interest. Classwork in various areas not covered by regular subjects.
Fall: D. Fares
Spring: D. Fares
No required or recommended textbooks

20.THG Graduate Thesis
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research leading to the writing of an SM or PhD thesis; to be arranged by the student and the MIT faculty advisor.
Fall: D. Fares
IAP: D. Fares
Spring: D. Fares
No required or recommended textbooks

20.THU Undergraduate BE Thesis
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research leading to the writing of an SB thesis; to be arranged by the student under approved supervision.
Fall: H. Xu
IAP: H. Xu
Spring: H. Xu
No required or recommended textbooks (IAP 2025); Textbooks arranged individually (Spring 2025)

20.UR Undergraduate Research Opportunities
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Laboratory research in the fields of bioengineering or environmental health. May be extended over multiple terms.
Fall: D. Fares
IAP: D. Fares
Spring: D. Fares
No required or recommended textbooks

20.URG Undergraduate Research Opportunities
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Emphasizes direct and active involvement in laboratory research in bioengineering or environmental health. May be extended over multiple terms.
Fall: D. Fares
IAP: D. Fares
Spring: D. Fares
No required or recommended textbooks


left arrow | 20.00-20.ZZZZ | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 21: Humanities
IAP/Spring 2025


Research subjects are also offered by programs within the Department of Humanities: Anthropology (21A), Comparative Media Studies/Writing (CMS/21W), Global Studies and Languages (21G), History (21H), Literature (21L), Music and Theater Arts (21M/21T), Science, Technology, and Society (STS), and Women's and Gender Studies (WGS). Consult those listings for details.

21.00 SHASS Exploration
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
______
Provides a better understanding of what the humanities, arts, and social sciences at MIT are all about. Each week, a different faculty member from a SHASS unit discusses their research, giving students a sense of what they might expect from a major, minor, or concentration in their field. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students.
Staff

21.01 Compass Course: Moral and Social Questions about the Human Condition
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Elective Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://compass.mit.edu/
Lecture: M10-12 (5-232) or M EVE (7-9 PM) (56-167) or T1-3 (2-146) or R9-11 (56-167) Recitation: F10,F12 (5-232) or F9 (56-167) or F10 (5-231) or T10 (56-167)
______
Provides an introduction to analytic inquiry and active debate about persistent moral and social questions concerning the human experience; a shared conversation on these questions across the diverse students and departments at MIT; and a collective engagement with historical and contemporary work in the humanities, arts, and social sciences. The main objectives of this subject are to provide students with opportunities to begin developing and practicing the skills and habits of mind needed for lifelong reflection and conversations with others on the normative foundations of social and human life. Lectures are offered online; in-class time is dedicated to recitations, exercises, and group discussion. Limited to 18 per section.
L. Tsai
No textbook information available

21.THT Humanities Pre-Thesis Tutorial
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: As specified for particular field
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Definition of and early-stage work on thesis project leading to 21.THU Undergraduate Thesis in Humanities. Taken during the first term of the student's two-term commitment to the thesis project. Student works closely with an individual faculty tutor. Required for all students in Course 21, and those doing 21-E and 21-S degrees, for whom the thesis is a degree requirement.
Fall: C. Phan
IAP: C. Phan
Spring: C. Phan
Textbooks arranged individually

21.THU Undergraduate Thesis in Humanities
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 21.THT
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Completion of work on the senior major thesis under supervision of a faculty tutor. Includes oral presentation of thesis progress early in the term, assembling and revising the final text, and meeting at the close with a committee of faculty evaluators to discuss the successes and limitations of the project. Required for most students in Course 21 and those doing 21-E and 21-S degrees.
Fall: C. Phan
IAP: C. Phan
Spring: C. Phan
Textbooks arranged individually

21.UR Undergraduate Research in Humanities
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Individual participation in an ongoing research project. For students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
Fall: C. Phan
IAP: C. Phan
Spring: C. Phan
Textbooks arranged individually

21.URG Research in Humanities
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Individual participation in an ongoing research project. For students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
Fall: C. Phan
IAP: C. Phan
Spring: C. Phan
Textbooks arranged individually


left arrow | 21.TH-21.URG | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 21A: Anthropology
IAP/Spring 2025


The anthropology subjects described below are grouped within six areas: Core Subjects; Culture, Politics, and Identities; Bodies, Health, and Environment; Science, Technology, and Media; Research Methods in Anthropology; and Independent Study, Special Subjects, and Thesis.

Core Subjects

21A.00 Introduction to Anthropology: Comparing Human Cultures
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (56-154)
______
Through the comparative study of different cultures, anthropology explores fundamental questions about what it means to be human. Seeks to understand how culture shapes societies, from the smallest island in the South Pacific to the largest Asian metropolis, and affects the way institutions work, from scientific laboratories to Christian mega-churches. Provides a framework for analyzing diverse facets of human experience, such as gender, ethnicity, language, politics, economics, and art.
M. Thompson
No textbook information available

21A.01 How Culture Works
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces diverse meanings and uses of the concept of culture with historical and contemporary examples from scholarship and popular media around the globe. Includes first-hand observations, synthesized histories and ethnographies, quantitative representations, and visual and fictionalized accounts of human experiences. Students conduct empirical research on cultural differences through the systematic observation of human interaction, employ methods of interpretative analysis, and practice convincing others of the accuracy of their findings.
M. Buyandelger

21A.157 The Meaning of Life
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (56-114)
______
Examines how a variety of cultural traditions propose answers to the question of how to live a meaningful life. Considers the meaning of life, not as a philosophical abstraction, but as a question that individuals grapple with in their daily lives, facing difficult decisions between meeting and defying cultural expectations. Provides tools for thinking about moral decisions as social and historical practices, and permits students to compare and contextualize the ways people in different times and places approach fundamental ethical concerns.
M. Buyandelger, H. Paxson
No textbook information available

Culture, Politics, and Identities

21A.103[J] The Science of Race, Sex, and Gender
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as STS.046[J], WGS.225[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the role of science and medicine in the origins and evolution of the concepts of race, sex, and gender from the 17th century to the present. Focus on how biological, anthropological, and medical concepts intersect with social, cultural, and political ideas about racial, sexual, and gender difference in the US and globally. Approach is historical and comparative across disciplines emphasizing the different modes of explanation and use of evidence in each field.
A. Sur

21A.104 Memory, Culture, and Forgetting
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
______
Introduces scholarly debates about the sociocultural practices through which individuals and societies create, sustain, recall, and erase memories. Emphasis is given to the history of knowledge, construction of memory, the role of authorities in shaping memory, and how societies decide on whose versions of memory are more "truthful" and "real." Other topics include how memory works in the human brain, memory and trauma, amnesia, memory practices in the sciences, false memory, sites of memory, and the commodification of memory.
M. Buyandelger

21A.111[J] For Love and Money: Rethinking the Family
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as WGS.172[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (1-135) +final
______
Cross-cultural case studies introduce students to the anthropological study of the social institutions and symbolic meanings of family, gender, and sexuality. Investigates the different forms families and households take and considers their social, emotional, and economic dynamics. Analyzes how various expectations for, and experiences of, family life are rooted in or challenged by particular conceptions of gender and sexuality. Addresses questions surrounding what it means to be a "man" or a "woman," as well as a family member, in different social contexts.
H. Arain
No required or recommended textbooks

21A.120 American Dream: Exploring Class in the US
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the "American Dream" — the belief that all individuals and groups can succeed in the US through hard work and determination — in light of decreasing social mobility, increasing inequality, and shifting patterns of immigration. Focuses on how people use storytelling — such as oral narrative, memoirs, home movies, family photo albums, and novels — to reflect on their day-to-day experience of social class in the United States. Considers how social class intersects with other aspects of identity, such as race, ethnicity, and gender. Students undertake research projects and class assignments using oral histories, interviews, and analysis of archival records.
C. Walley

21A.127[J] Power: Interpersonal, Organizational, and Global Dimensions
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 11.045[J], 15.302[J], 17.045[J])
(Subject meets with 21A.129)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
The study of power among individuals and within organizations, markets, and states. Using examples from anthropology and sociology alongside classical and contemporary social theory, explores the nature of dominant and subordinate relationships, types of legitimate authority, and practices of resistance. Examines how people are influenced in subtle ways by those around them, who makes controlling decisions in the family, how people get ahead at work, and whether democracies, in fact, reflect the will of the people. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Silbey

21A.129 Power: Interpersonal, Organizational, and Global Dimensions
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 11.045[J], 15.302[J], 17.045[J], 21A.127[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
The study of power among individuals and within organizations, markets, and states. Using examples from anthropology and sociology alongside classical and contemporary social theory, explores the nature of dominant and subordinate relationships, types of legitimate authority, and practices of resistance. Examines how people are influenced in subtle ways by those around them, who makes controlling decisions in the family, how people get ahead at work, and whether democracies, in fact, reflect the will of the people. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Silbey

21A.130[J] Introduction to Latin American Studies
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 17.55[J], 21G.084[J], 21H.170[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.784)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines contemporary Latin American culture, politics, and history. Surveys geography, economic development, and race, religion, and gender in Latin America. Special emphasis on the Salvadoran civil war, human rights and military rule in Argentina and Chile, and migration from Central America and Mexico to the United States. Students analyze films, literature, visual art, journalism, historical documents, and social scientific research.
T. Padilla

21A.131[J] Latinx in the Age of Empire
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.270[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Analyzes the histories and presence of the Latinx population in the context of US territorial expansion, foreign intervention and economic policy toward Latin America. Combines both historical and anthropological approaches to analyze local conditions that lead people to migrate within the broader forces of international political economy. Pays attention to the historical context in the home countries, especially as impacted by US policy. Explores Latinx community dynamics, politics of migrant labor, relational formations of race and transnational forms of belonging. Historically and ethnographically seeks to understand structures of criminalization, activist practices of resistance and the development of deportation regimes.
H. Beltran, T. Padilla

21A.132[J] Race and Migration in Europe
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21G.058[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.418)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Addresses the shifting politics of nation, ethnicity, and race in the context of migration and globalization in Germany and Europe. Provides students with analytical tools to approach global concerns and consider Europe and Germany from cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives. Familiarizes students with the ways in which histories of migration, travel, and colonial encounters shape contemporary Europe. Introduces the concepts of transnationalism, diasporic cultures, racism, ethnicity, asylum, and mobility via case studies and materials, including film, ethnography, fiction, and autobiography. Taught in English. Limited to 18.
B. Stoetzer

21A.133 Latin American Migrations
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines economic, cultural, political, and social dimensions of past and present migrations from Latin America and the Hispanic Caribbean to, from, and within the United States. Explores Latina/o community dynamics, politics of migrant labor, relational formations of race, and transnational forms of belonging. Students analyze ethnographies, films, visual arts, journalism, and music to study migration using central analytic concepts from anthropology, sociology, ethnic studies, and Latinx studies.
H. Beltran

21A.135[J] Africa and the Politics of Knowledge
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21G.025[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Considers how, despite its immense diversity, Africa continues to hold purchase as both a geographical entity and meaningful knowledge category. Examines the relationship between articulations of "Africa" and projects like European imperialism, developments in the biological sciences, African de-colonization and state-building, and the imagining of the planet's future. Readings in anthropology and history are organized around five themes: space and place, race, representation, self-determination, and time. Enrollment limited.
D. Asfaha

21A.136[J] Global Africa: Creative Cultures
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.026[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.326)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines contemporary and historical cultural production on and from Africa across a range of registers, including literary, musical and visual arts, material culture, and science and technology. Employs key theoretical concepts from anthropology and social theory to analyze these forms and phenomena. Uses case studies to consider how Africa articulates its place in, and relationship to, the world through creative practices. Discussion topics largely drawn from Francophone and sub-Saharan Africa, but also from throughout the continent and the African diaspora. Taught in English. Limited to 18.
A. Edoh

21A.137[J] African Migrations
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.028[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.328)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines West African migration to France and to the United States from the early 20th century to the present. Centering the experiences of African social actors and historicizing recent dynamics, students consider what migration across these three regions reveals about African projects of self-determination, postcolonial nation-building, and global citizenship. Students also comparatively analyze the workings of contemporary French and American societies, in particular, the articulations of race and citizenship in the two nations. Taught in English. Limited to 18.
A. Edoh

21A.138[J] Women and Gender in the Middle East and North Africa
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.263[J], WGS.220[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: F10-1 (2-103)
______
Provides an overview of key issues and themes in the study of women and gender relations in the Middle East and North Africa. Includes readings from a variety of disciplines, e.g., history, anthropology, sociology, literature, religious studies, and media studies. Addresses themes such as the relationship between the concepts of nation and gender; women's citizenship; Middle Eastern women's activism and the involvement of their Western "sisters" to this movement; gendered interpretations of the Qur'an and the example of the Prophet Muhammad; and the three H's of Orientalism (hijab, harem, and hamam).
L. Eckmekcioglu
No textbook information available

21A.141[J] Images of Asian Women: Dragon Ladies and Lotus Blossoms
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21G.048[J], WGS.274[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores some of the forces and mechanisms through which stereotypes are built and perpetuated. In particular, examines stereotypes associated with Asian women in colonial, nationalist, state-authoritarian, and global/diasporic narratives about gender and power. Students read ethnography, fiction, and history, and view films to examine the politics and circumstances that create and perpetuate the representation of Asian women as dragon ladies, lotus blossoms, despotic tyrants, desexualized servants, and docile subordinates. Students are introduced to debates about Orientalism, gender, and power.
M. Buyandelger

21A.143[J] Gender and Japanese Popular Culture
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.039[J], WGS.154[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.591)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines relationships between identity and participation in Japanese popular culture as a way of understanding the changing character of media, capitalism, fan communities, and culture. Emphasizes contemporary popular culture and theories of gender, sexuality, race, and the workings of power and value in global culture industries. Topics include manga (comic books), hip-hop and other popular music, anime and feature films, video games, contemporary literature, and online communication. Students present analyses and develop a final project based on a particular aspect of gender and popular culture. Several films screened outside of regular class meeting times. Taught in English.
I. Condry

21A.150 Teaching and Learning: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the diverse ways that people teach and learn in different countries, disciplines, and subcultures (computer gamers, magicians, jazz musicians, etc.). Compares schooling to other forms of knowledge transmission, from initiation and apprenticeship to recent innovations in online education. Students discuss various learning theories and apply them to a variety of in-class activities using qualitative methods to conduct original research on topics of their choice. Limited to 15.
G. Jones

21A.155 Food, Culture, and Politics
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://anthropology.mit.edu/21A.155-Food-Culture-and-Politics-Spring-2025
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (4-257)
______
Explores connections between what we eat and who we are through cross-cultural study of how personal identities and social groups are formed via food production, preparation, and consumption. Organized around critical discussion of what makes "good" food good (healthy, authentic, ethical, etc.). Uses anthropological and literary classics as well as recent writing and films on the politics of food and agriculture. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided.
A. Rewegan
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21A.461 What Is Capitalism?
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces academic debates on the nature of capitalism, drawing upon the ideas of scholars as diverse as Adam Smith and Karl Marx. Examines anthropological studies of how contemporary capitalism plays out in people's daily lives in a range of geographic and social settings, and implications for how we understand capitalism today. Settings range from Wall Street investment banks to auto assembly plants, from family businesses to consumer shopping malls. Enrollment limited.
C. Walley

Bodies, Health, and Environment

21A.301 Disease and Health: Culture, Society, and Ethics
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (56-162)
______
From a cross cultural and global perspective, examines how medicine is practiced, with particular emphasis on biomedicine. Analyzes medical practice as a cultural system, focusing on the human and social side of things. Considers how people in different societies think of disease, health, body, and mind. Enrollment limited.
D. Asfaha
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21A.302[J] Dilemmas in Biomedical Ethics: Playing God or Doing Good?
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 11.133[J], WGS.271[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
An introduction to the cross-cultural study of biomedical ethics. Examines moral foundations of the science and practice of western biomedicine through case studies of abortion, contraception, cloning, organ transplantation and other issues. Evaluates challenges that new medical technologies pose to the practice and availability of medical services around the globe, and to cross-cultural ideas of kinship and personhood. Discusses critiques of the biomedical tradition from anthropological, feminist, legal, religious, and cross-cultural theorists.
Staff

21A.303[J] The Anthropology of Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as STS.060[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Applies the tools of anthropology to examine biology in the age of genomics, biotechnological enterprise, biodiversity conservation, pharmaceutical bioprospecting, and synthetic biology. Examines such social concerns such as bioterrorism, genetic modification, and cloning. Offers an anthropological inquiry into how the substances and explanations of biology — ecological, organismic, cellular, molecular, genetic, informatic — are changing. Examines such artifacts as cell lines, biodiversity databases, and artificial life models, and using primary sources in biology, social studies of the life sciences, and literary and cinematic materials, asks how we might answer Erwin Schrodinger's 1944 question, "What Is Life?", today.
S. Helmreich

21A.311 The Social Lives of Medical Objects
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the theories and assumptions built into objects meant to improve health. Students read and discuss case studies that follow the often unexpected ways intended intervention objects are designed and developed, globally travel, and at times become part of people's everyday lives. Studies include a broad range of medical materials and development technologies, such as penicillin, anti-malarial drugs, water pumps, air filters, prosthetic limbs, glucose meters, scales, DDT insecticides, bednets, and micro-nutrient pills. Limited to 20.
A. Moran-Thomas

21A.312 Planetary Change and Human Health
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores intersections between health of the planet and the health of human beings. Drawing upon case studies of growing ecological crisis around the world, topics include the human health implications of global climate change, sea level rise, weather disasters and fossil fuel pollution; connections between the health of plants, animals, microbes, and people; shifting industrial food systems and human nutrition; representations of race and indigeneity amid struggles for environmental justice; waste disposal and nuclear afterlives; and debates surrounding controversial issues such as geoengineering and climate AI.  Students practice inserting environmental sciences in dialogue with toolkits from the social sciences and humanities to explore the uneven social worlds that shape how science gets traction (or not) in policy and law. Limited to 25 students.
A. Moran-Thomas

21A.319[J] History and Anthropology of Medicine and Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as STS.330[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores recent historical and anthropological approaches to the study of medicine and biology. Topics might include interaction of disease and society; science, colonialism, and international health; impact of new technologies on medicine and the life sciences; neuroscience and psychiatry; race, biology and medicine. Specific emphasis varies from year to year.
A. Moran-Thomas, R. Scheffler

21A.400 The Stakes of International Development
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Offers an anthropological perspective on international development. Students consider development, not in policy or technical terms, but through its social and political dynamics and its impacts on daily life. Examines the various histories of, and meanings given to, international development as well as the social organization of aid agencies and projects. Follows examples of specific projects in various parts of the world. Examples: water projects for pastorialists in Africa, factory development in Southeast Asia, and international nature parks in Indonesia.
C. Walley

21A.402[J] City Living: Ethnographies of Urban Worlds
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21G.029[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.419)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the ways in which anthropologists have studied cities. Addressing the question of what constitutes the boundaries of life in the city, students familiarize themselves with key themes - such as the relation between city and countryside, space and place, urban economies, science, globalization, migration, nature/culture, kinship, and race, gender, class and memory - that have guided anthropological analyses of cities across the world. Via engagement with case studies and their own small fieldwork projects, students gain experience with different ethnographic strategies for documenting urban life. Taught in English. Limited to 25 across 21A.402 and 21G.419.
B. Stoetzer

21A.404 Living Through Climate Change
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W EVE (7-10 PM) (E53-354)
______
Uses anthropological approaches to better understand those social and political forces shaping climate change as well as proposed solutions, including those leveraging technical and scientific tools. Examines how climate change is bound up, historically and today, with other processes — including land dispossession, pollution, resource insecurity, industrial agriculture, eroding infrastructure, racial housing discrimination, and job loss. Explores perspectives on social justice, community engagement, and lived experiences of climate change — and their implications for science, engineering, and industry. Engages ethnographic case studies that address unequal climate impacts, the effects of policy, and ongoing mitigation efforts unfolding in agriculture, coastal engineering, architecture, urban planning, global migration, and historical repair. Includes a couple of mandatory field trips during class time.
C. Walley
No textbook information available

21A.407[J] Gender, Race, and Environmental Justice
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21G.057[J], STS.022[J], WGS.275[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to the analysis of gender in science, technology, and environmental politics from a global perspective. Familiarizes students with central objects, questions, and methods in the field. Examines existent critiques of the racial, sexual and environmental politics at stake in techno-scientific cultures. Draws on material from popular culture, media, fiction, film, and ethnography. Addressing specific examples from across the globe, students also explore different approaches to build more livable environments that promote social justice. Taught in English. Limited to 18.
B. Stoetzer

21A.409[J] Ethics of Intervention
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 11.238[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
An historical and cross-cultural study of the logics and practices of intervention: the ways that individuals, institutions, and governments identify conditions of need or states of emergency within and across borders that require a response. Examines when a response is viewed as obligatory, when is it deemed unnecessary, and by whom; when the intercession is considered fulfilled; and the rationales or assumptions that are employed in assessing interventions. Theories of the state, globalization, and humanitarianism; power, policy, and institutions; gender, race, and ethnicity; and law, ethics, and morality are examined.
E. C. James

21A.410 Environmental Struggles
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Offers an international perspective on the environment. Using environmental conflict to consider the stakes that groups in various parts of the world have in nature, while also exploring how ecological and social dynamics interact and change over time, subject considers such controversial environmental issues as: nuclear contamination in Eastern Europe; genetic bioprospecting in Mexico; toxic run-off in the rural US; the Bhopal accident in India; and the impact of population growth in the Third World.
C. Walley

21A.411[J] People and Other Animals
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.380[J])
(Subject meets with 21A.419[J], 21H.980[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-10
______
Historical exploration of the ways that people have interacted with their closest animal relatives, for example: hunting, domestication of livestock, exploitation of animal labor, scientific study of animals, display of exotic and performing animals, and pet-keeping. Themes include changing ideas about animal agency and intelligence, our moral obligations to animals, and the limits imposed on the use of animals. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

21A.419[J] People and Other Animals
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.980[J])
(Subject meets with 21A.411[J], 21H.380[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-10
______
Historical exploration of the ways that people have interacted with their closest animal relatives, for example: hunting, domestication of livestock, exploitation of animal labor, scientific study of animals, display of exotic and performing animals, and pet-keeping. Themes include changing ideas about animal agency and intelligence, our moral obligations to animals, and the limits imposed on the use of animals. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

21A.429[J] Environmental Conflict
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as STS.320[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the complex interrelationships among humans and natural environments, focusing on non-western parts of the world in addition to Europe and the United States. Use of environmental conflict to draw attention to competing understandings and uses of "nature" as well as the local, national and transnational power relationships in which environmental interactions are embedded. In addition to utilizing a range of theoretical perspectives, subject draws upon a series of ethnographic case studies of environmental conflicts in various parts of the world.
C. Walley

Science, Technology, and Media

21A.151 Language, Communication, and Culture
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to linguistic anthropology, which deals with the role of language in social, cultural, and political processes. Considers language as more than just a neutral conduit for exchanging information, but rather as a factor shaping and shaped by interpersonal relationships, national identity, and perception of the world. Drawing on case studies and first-hand observations, students apply methods for analyzing communication and miscommunication in everyday conversation, professional discourse, verbal performance, online interaction, political rhetoric, and more.
Staff

21A.500[J] Technology and Culture
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as STS.075[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
URL: https://anthropology.mit.edu/21A.500J_STS.075J_Technology_and_Culture
Lecture: R11-1 (32-141)
______
Examines the intersections of technology, culture, and politics in a variety of social and historical settings ranging from 19th-century factories to 21st-century techno dance floors, from Victorian London to anything-goes Las Vegas. Discussions and readings organized around three questions: what cultural effects and risks follow from treating biology as technology; how computers have changed the way we think about ourselves and others; and how politics are built into our infrastructures. Explores the forces behind technological and cultural change; how technological and cultural artifacts are understood and used by different communities; and whether, in what ways, and for whom technology has produced a better world. Limited to 50.
Fall: M. Thompson
Spring: H. Beltran
No textbook information available

21A.501[J] Art, Craft, Science
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as STS.074[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21A.509, STS.474
______
Examines how people learn, practice, and evaluate traditional and contemporary craft techniques. Social science theories of design, embodiment, apprenticeship learning, skill, labor, expertise, and tacit knowledge are used to explore distinctions among art, craft, and science. Also discusses the commoditization of craft into market goods, collectible art, and tourism industries. Ethnographic and historical case studies include textiles, Shaker furniture, glassblowing, quilting, cheesemaking, industrial design, home and professional cooking, factory and laboratory work, CAD/CAM. Demonstrations, optional field trips, and/or hands-on craft projects may be included. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
F. Rossi

21A.502 Fun and Games: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Considers the cultural organization of play in different communities and societies. Explores why all people play, how different cultures experience fun, and what particular games mean, if anything. Surveys major theories of play in relation to a variety of play phenomena, such as jokes, video games, children's fantasies, sports, and entertainment spectacles. As a final project, students develop their own case study.
G. Jones

21A.503[J] The Human Past: Introduction to Archaeology
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 3.986[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
From an archaeological perspective, examines ancient human activities and the forces that shaped them. Draws on case studies from the Old and/or New World. Exposes students to various classes of archaeological data, such as stone, bone, and ceramics, that help reconstruct the past.
F. Rossi

21A.504[J] Cultures of Computing
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as STS.086[J], WGS.276[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://anthropology.mit.edu/21A.504J_STS.086J_WGS.276J_Cultures_of_Computing_Spring_2024
______
Examines computers anthropologically, as artifacts revealing the social orders and cultural practices that create them. Students read classic texts in computer science along with cultural analyses of computing history and contemporary configurations. Explores the history of automata, automation and capitalist manufacturing; cybernetics and WWII operations research; artificial intelligence and gendered subjectivity; robots, cyborgs, and artificial life; creation and commoditization of the personal computer; the growth of the Internet as a military, academic, and commercial project; hackers and gamers; technobodies and virtual sociality. Emphasis is placed on how ideas about gender and other social differences shape labor practices, models of cognition, hacking culture, and social media.
D. Banerjee

21A.505[J] The Anthropology of Sound
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as CMS.406[J], STS.065[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the ways humans experience sound and how perceptions and technologies of sound emerge from cultural, economic, and historical worlds. Consider how the sound/noise/music boundaries have been imagined, created, and modeled across sociocultural and historical contexts. Learn how environmental, linguistic, and musical sounds are construed cross-culturally as well as the rise of telephony, architectural acoustics, sound recording, multi-channel and spatial mix performance, and the globalized travel of these technologies. Questions of sound ownership, property, authorship, remix, and copyright in the digital age are also addressed.
I. Condry

21A.506 The Anthropology of Politics: Persuasion and Power
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the ethnographic study of politics, i.e., what anthropologists understand to be "political" in various social and economic systems, from small-scale societies to liberal democratic states. Examines politics across three contemporary contexts: electoral politics, public spheres, and bureaucracies and humanitarian governance. Students consider and analyze how questions of authority, coercion, and violence have been theorized to relate to the political, and how some aspects of social life are regimented in explicitly non-political ways.
staff

21A.507[J] Resonance: Sonic Experience, Science, and Art
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 4.648[J])
(Subject meets with 4.649[J], 21A.519[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the sonic phenomena and experiences that motivate scientific, humanistic, and artistic practices. Explores the aesthetic and technical aspects of how we hear; measure or describe vibrations; record, compress, and distribute resonating materials; and how we ascertain what we know about the world through sound. Although the focus is on sound as an aesthetic, social, and scientific object, the subject also investigates how resonance is used in the analysis of acoustics, architecture, and music theory. Students make a sonic artifact and written report reflecting research as a final requirement. Students taking graduate version complete assignments aligned with their graduate research.
Consult C. Jones

21A.508 Culture and Ethics in Science Fiction Worlds
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the ethical and controversial aspects of technology's impacts on society, as approached through the lens of science fiction and media. From novels such as Kindred to films like Sleep Dealer, the social inequalities and political complexities portrayed in science fiction worlds offer a launch point to discuss the uneasy aspects and uneven reach of science, technology, and medicine. Covers issues including gene editing, data privacy, border surveillance, human experimentation, environmental crises, war industries, and the impacts of AI.
A. Moran-Thomas

21A.509[J] Art, Craft, Science
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as STS.474[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21A.501, STS.074
______
Examines how people learn, practice, and evaluate traditional and contemporary craft techniques. Social science theories of design, embodiment, apprenticeship learning, skill, labor, expertise, and tacit knowledge are used to explore distinctions among art, craft, and science. Also discusses the commoditization of craft into market goods, collectible art, and tourism industries. Ethnographic and historical case studies include textiles, Shaker furniture, glassblowing, quilting, cheesemaking, industrial design, home and professional cooking, factory and laboratory work, CAD/CAM. Demonstrations, optional field trips, and/or hands-on craft projects may be included. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
H. Paxson

21A.511 Hacking from the South
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with 21A.539)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (66-144)
______
Using anthropological perspectives to propose critically reflexive modes of participation in existing socio-technical systems, students draw on ethnographic case studies to understand how practices and definitions of "hacking" are grounded in specific political and cultural contexts. With a focus on the Global South (Africa, Latin America, Caribbean, Middle East, Asia and Southeast Asia, Oceania), examines the relationship between international development and technological empowerment by interrogating assumptions associated with particular locations and peoples, especially those constructed as peripheral to geographic centers of power. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
H. Beltran
No textbook information available

21A.513 Drawing Human Experience
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
URL: https://anthropology.mit.edu/21A.513_Drawing_Human_Culture_Enrollment_Details
Lecture: F1-4 (10-150)
______
Introduces fundamental techniques of drawing with traditional media and their application as tools of anthropological inquiry. Examines what the human impulse to draw reveals about connections between mind, hand, and eye. Explores ideas, refines perceptions, and communicates insights through both abstract and figurative drawing. Each student completes a portfolio of original drawings with accompanying written analysis. Limited to 20 due to space constraints.
G. Jones, S. Riskin
No required or recommended textbooks

21A.519[J] Resonance: Sonic Experience, Science, and Art
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 4.649[J])
(Subject meets with 4.648[J], 21A.507[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the sonic phenomena and experiences that motivate scientific, humanistic, and artistic practices. Explores the aesthetic and technical aspects of how we hear; measure or describe vibrations; record, compress, and distribute resonating materials; and how we ascertain what we know about the world through sound. Although the focus is on sound as an aesthetic, social, and scientific object, the subject also investigates how resonance is used in the analysis of acoustics, architecture, and music theory. Students make a sonic artifact and written report reflecting research as a final requirement. Students taking graduate version complete assignments aligned with their graduate research.
Consult C. Jones

21A.520 Magic, Science, and Religion
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the origins of magic, science, and religion as forms of belief within and across cultures. Addresses the place of rationality and belief in competing sociocultural theories, with a focus on analyzing modern perspectives. Examines how cases of overlap between magic, science, and religion raise new questions about modernity and human nature.
G. Jones

21A.525 Oceans and Us
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores how people have understood and encountered the ocean, cross-culturally, as a site of danger, pleasure, travel, food-procurement, commerce, and tourism. Topics include imperial voyaging, piracy, the invention of seaside vacations, the politics of fishing, the culture of onboard living in surface and submarine ships, the rise of undersea entertainment and documentary, regimes of managing maritime spaces and species, and the emergence of the ocean as an object of global ecological concern, particularly around climate change and sea level rise.
Staff

21A.529 Virtual and Other Realities
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores virtual worlds created in cyberspace, non-internet ritual spaces, science laboratories, tech companies, and artistic performances from an anthropological perspective. Students acquire analytical tools for thinking about immersive experiences of being someone else, and the socio-economic, political, and technological contexts behind creating specific types of parallel worlds. Examines and contextualizes the ways in which scientists, designers, shamans, ritual specialists, and corporations imagine, respond to, and steer people's desires and needs. Considers debates on the future of imagination, sensory experiences, and creativity in technology. Limited to 20. This class is designed as a seminar class for graduate and advanced undergraduate students.
M. Buyandelger

21A.539 Hacking from the South
(New)
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 21A.511)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (66-144)
______
Using anthropological perspectives to propose critically reflexive modes of participation in existing socio-technical systems, students draw on ethnographic case studies to understand how practices and definitions of "hacking" are grounded in specific political and cultural contexts. With a focus on the Global South (Africa, Latin America, Caribbean, Middle East, Asia and Southeast Asia, Oceania), examines the relationship between international development and technological empowerment by interrogating assumptions associated with particular locations and peoples, especially those constructed as peripheral to geographic centers of power. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
H. Beltran
No textbook information available

21A.550[J] DV Lab: Documenting Science through Video and New Media
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as STS.064[J])
(Subject meets with 21A.559)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Uses documentary video making as a tool to explore everyday social worlds (including those of science and engineering), and for thinking analytically about media itself. Students make videos and engage in critical analysis. Provides students with instruction on how to communicate effectively and creatively in a visual medium, and how to articulate their own analyses of documentary images in writing and spoken word. Readings drawn from documentary film theory, anthropology, and social studies of science. Students view a wide variety of classic documentaries and explore different styles. Lab component devoted to digital video production. Includes a final video project. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 12.
C. Walley, C. Boebel

21A.559 DV Lab: Documenting Science through Video and New Media
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 21A.550[J], STS.064[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Uses documentary video making as a tool to explore everyday social worlds (including those of science and engineering), and for thinking analytically about media itself. Students make videos and engage in critical analysis. Provides students with instruction on how to communicate effectively and creatively in a visual medium, and how to articulate their own analyses of documentary images in writing and spoken word. Readings drawn from documentary film theory, anthropology, and social studies of science. Students view a wide variety of classic documentaries and explore different styles. Lab component devoted to digital video production. Includes a final video project. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 12.
C. Walley, C. Boebel

Research Methods in Anthropology

21A.802 Seminar in Ethnography and Fieldwork
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to ethnographic practices: the study of and communicating about culture. Subject provides instruction and practice in writing, revision of fieldnotes, and a final paper. Preference to Anthropology majors and minors.
G. Jones

21A.809 Designing Empirical Research in the Social Sciences
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 15.347)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: F9-12 (E53-354)
______
Foundations of good empirical research in the social sciences. Introduction to the basic assumptions and underlying logic of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Explores a variety of approaches to research design, evaluates the products of empirical research, and practices several common techniques. Discusses several major theoretical paradigms used as interpretive frameworks for social science research. Students develop a proposal for their own research project.
S. Silbey
No textbook information available

21A.819 Ethnographic Research Methods
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-6-3
Lecture: T9-12 (66-160)
______
Training in the design and practice of qualitative research. Organized around illustrative texts, class exercises, and student projects. Topics include the process of gaining access to and participating in the social worlds of others; techniques of observation, fieldnote-taking, researcher self-monitoring and reflection; methods of inductive analysis of qualitative data including conceptual coding, grounded theory, and narrative analysis. Discussion of research ethics, the politics of fieldwork, modes of validating researcher accounts, and styles of writing up qualitative field research.
G. Jones
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21A.829[J] Ethnography
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as STS.360[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Practicum style course introduces students to ethnographic methods and writing in global health research. Organized around interviewing and observational assignments. Students develop a bibliography of  anthropological and ethnographic writing relevant to their project, and write a short paper about integrating ethnographic methods into a future research project. Preference to HASTS students; open to others with permission of instructor.
Staff

21A.859[J] Social Theory and Analysis
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as STS.250[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T2-5 (E51-165)
______
Major theorists and theoretical schools since the late 19th century. Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Bourdieu, Levi-Strauss, Geertz, Foucault, Gramsci, and others. Key terms, concepts, and debates.
D. Banerjee
No textbook information available

Independent Study, Special Subjects, and Thesis

21A.901 Independent Study in Anthropology
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Two subjects in Anthropology
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study, guided research, practicum, or field work under regular supervision by a faculty member. Projects require prior approval of the instructor and Head of the Anthropology Program. Normal maximum is 6 units; exceptional 9- or 12-unit projects occasionally approved.
Fall: C. Carlson
IAP: C. Carlson
Spring: C. Carlson
No required or recommended textbooks

21A.902 Independent Study in Anthropology
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Two subjects in Anthropology
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study, guided research, practicum, or field work under regular supervision by a faculty member. Projects require prior approval of the instructor and Head of the Anthropology Program. Normal maximum is 6 units; exceptional 9- or 12-unit projects occasionally approved.
Fall: C. Carlson
IAP: C. Carlson
Spring: C. Carlson
No required or recommended textbooks

21A.929 Graduate Independent Study
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for study or projects at an advanced level with an Anthropology faculty member.
Fall: C. Carlson
IAP: C. Carlson
Spring: C. Carlson
No required or recommended textbooks

21A.939 Graduate Independent Study
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for study or projects at an advanced level with an Anthropology faculty member.
Fall: C. Carlson
IAP: C. Carlson
Spring: C. Carlson
No required or recommended textbooks

21A.949 Graduate Independent Study
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for study or projects at an advanced level with an Anthropology faculty member.
Fall: C. Carlson
IAP: C. Carlson
Spring: C. Carlson
No required or recommended textbooks

21A.989[J] HASTS Dissertation Writing Workshop
(New)
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 21H.960[J], STS.860[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-5
______
Bi-weekly seminar for students in the doctoral program in History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology & Society (HASTS) who have completed research and are in the process of writing their dissertations. Each class focuses on a particular element of the writing: organizing chapters, engaging the secondary literature, the art of the vignette, etc. Depending on student needs, some classes may be tailored to anthropological writing or to historical writing. Students are given ample opportunity to workshop draft passages and chapters. For PhD students only. PhD students outside the HASTS program require permission of instructor.
W. Deringer

21A.S01 Special Subject in Anthropology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units arranged
URL: https://anthropology.mit.edu/Sp2025_21A.S01_In_the_Trenches_Critical_Global_Health_and_Infrastructure_Studies
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (56-162)
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in anthropology that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
D. Asfaha
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21A.S02 Special Subject in Anthropology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units arranged
URL: https://anthropology.mit.edu/21A.S02_Special_Topic-AI_Culture_and_Society
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in anthropology that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
C. Boebel, G. Jones

21A.S10 Special Graduate Subject in Anthropology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in anthropology that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
Staff

21A.S11 Special Graduate Subject in Anthropology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in anthropology that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
Staff

21A.THT Anthropology Pre-Thesis Tutorial
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Students writing a thesis work with an advisor to develop research topics, review relevant research and scholarship, frame research questions, choose an appropriate methodology for data collection and analysis, and draft the introductory and methodology sections of their theses. Includes substantial practice in writing (with revision) and oral presentations.
Fall: C. Carlson
IAP: C. Carlson
Spring: C. Carlson
No required or recommended textbooks

21A.THU Undergraduate Thesis in Anthropology
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 21A.THT
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Completion of work on the senior major thesis under supervision of a faculty thesis advisor. Includes oral presentation of thesis progress early in the term, assembling and revising the final text, and a final meeting with a committee of faculty evaluators to discuss the successes and limitations of the project.
Fall: C. Carlson
IAP: C. Carlson
Spring: C. Carlson
No required or recommended textbooks

21A.UR Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Individual participation in an ongoing research project. For students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
Fall: C. Carlson
IAP: C. Carlson
Spring: C. Carlson
No required or recommended textbooks

21A.URG Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Individual participation in an ongoing research project. For students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
Fall: C. Carlson
Spring: C. Carlson
Textbooks arranged individually (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)


left arrow | 21A.00-21A.999 | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Comparative Media Studies
IAP/Spring 2025

CMS Home    CI-M Subjects for Undergraduate Majors    IAP only    Evaluations (Certificates Required)
left arrow | CMS.00-CMS.999 plus UROP and Thesis | right arrow

Undergraduate Subjects

CMS.100 Introduction to Media Studies
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW EVE (7-8.30 PM) (1-371) or MW10-11.30 (1-375)
______
Offers an overview of the social, cultural, political, and economic impact of mediated communication on modern culture. Combines critical discussions with experiments working with different media. Media covered include radio, television, film, the printed word, and digital technologies. Topics include the nature and function of media, core media institutions, and media in transition. Enrollment limited.
Fall: C. Lee, E. Schiappa, O. Padilla
Spring: P. Duong, A. Gibson
No textbook information available

CMS.125[J] Liberalism, Toleration, and Freedom of Speech
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 17.043[J], 24.150[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines theories and principles that underlie the concept of free speech in the United States, the historical context in which the values of free speech and toleration emerged, and the philosophical arguments that were and are made for and against them. Students analyze a variety of contexts and communicative practices, including new media technologies, to debate how "speech" can be described and when it should be appropriately regulated. Considers current disputes over free speech on college campuses.
A. Byrne, B. Skow

CMS.150[J] Black Matters: Introduction to Black Studies
______

Undergrad (Spring) Arts + Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 24.912[J], 21H.106[J], 21L.008[J], 21W.741[J], WGS.190[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T2-5 (E15-335)
______
Interdisciplinary survey of people of African descent that draws on the overlapping approaches of history, literature, anthropology, legal studies, media studies, performance, linguistics, and creative writing. Connects the experiences of African-Americans and of other American minorities, focusing on social, political, and cultural histories, and on linguistic patterns. Includes lectures, discussions, workshops, and required field trips that involve minimal cost to students.
M. DeGraff, D. Fox Harrell, D. Wood
No textbook information available

CMS.300 Game Studies
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Subject meets with CMS.841)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Introduction to the interdisciplinary study of videogames as texts through an examination of their cultural, educational, and social functions in contemporary settings. Students play and analyze videogames while reading current research and theory from a variety of sources in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and industry. Assignments focus on game analysis in the context of the theories discussed in class. Includes regular reading, writing, and presentation exercises. No prior programming experience required. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20.
M. Jakobsson

CMS.301 Game Design Methods
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (E25-117)
______
Provides an introduction to the process of designing games and playful experiences. Familiarizes students with concepts, methods, techniques and tools used in the design of a wide variety of games. Focuses on aspects of the process such as rapid prototyping, play testing, and design iteration using a player-centered approach. Students work in project groups where they engage with a series of confined exercises, practice communicating design ideas, and discuss their own and others work in a constructive manner. No prior programming experience required. Limited to 15.
S. Verrilli, M. Jakobsson P. Tan
No textbook information available

CMS.303[J] DJ History, Technique, and Technology
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21M.365[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.803)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (E15-318)
______
Students explore a chosen contemporary or historical dance scene from around the world. Lectures examine the evolution of the craft and technologies of the DJ. Presents foundational practices of live DJ mixing; practice equipment is accessible to teams of students. Assignments include writing a report analyzing a book on DJ history or technique, producing a complete mix, and participation in an end-of-term performance. No prior experience is necessary, but students must sustain interest in some form of popular dance music, broadly defined. Graduate students complete additional assignments. Limited to 24.
Fall: P. Tan
Spring: P. Tan
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

CMS.306 Making Comics and Sequential Art
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with CMS.806)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: R EVE (7-10 PM) (1-150)
______
Applied introduction to comics and sequential art production. Builds skills in how to develop storylines; develop and draw characters, panels, and backgrounds; prepare for print production; and comprehend the basics of sequential language, composition, and layout. Students engage with crucial personal and political issues at stake across a range of comics genres: superhero, biographical, and countercultural. Addresses not just how we create comics, but why we create comics. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 16.
J. Wiser
No textbook information available

CMS.307 Critical Worldbuilding
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with CMS.807)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Studies the design and analysis of invented (or constructed) worlds for narrative media, such as television, films, comics, and literary texts. Provides the practical, historical and critical tools with which to understand the function and structure of imagined worlds. Examines world-building strategies in the various media and genres in order to develop a critical and creative repertoire. Participants create their own invented worlds. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 13.
J. Diaz

CMS.309[J] Transmedia Storytelling: Modern Science Fiction
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21W.763[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.809)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-7
Lecture: TR3-4.30 (66-144)
______
Explores transmedia storytelling by investigating how science fiction stories are told across different media, such as the short story, the novel, the screenplay, moving image, and games. Students consider issues of aesthetics, authorship, and genre, while also contextualizing discussion within the broader framework of the political issues raised by film, TV, and other kinds of science fiction texts. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Lewitt
No textbook information available

CMS.311[J] Media in Weimar and Nazi Germany
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.055[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-2-8
______
Debates over national and media identity in Weimar and Nazi Germany. Production and use of media under extreme political and social conditions with a focus on films (such as Nosferatu, Berlin, M, and Triumph des Willens) and other media. Media approached as both texts and systems. Considers the legacy of the period, in terms of stylistic influence (e.g. film noir), techniques of persuasion, and media's relationship to social and economic conditions. Taught in English. Enrollment limited.
Staff

CMS.313 Silent Film
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Examines how the key elements of today's films - composition, continuity editing, lighting, narrative structure - were originally created. Studies the history of cinema, from its origins in the late 19th century to the transition to sound in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Students view a range of films (both mainstream and experimental) from all over the world, with a particular focus on US productions. Emphasis on how color, sound, and other developments paved the way for today's technological innovations. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.314[J] Phantasmal Media: Computer-Based Art Theory and Practice
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21W.753[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.814)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Engages students in theory and practice of using computational techniques for developing expressive digital media works. Surveys approaches to understanding human imaginative processes, such as constructing concepts, metaphors, and narratives, and applies them to producing and understanding socially, culturally, and critically meaningful works in digital media. Readings engage a variety of theoretical perspectives from cognitive linguistics, literary and cultural theory, semiotics, digital media arts, and computer science. Students produce interactive narratives, games, and related forms of software art. Some programming and/or interactive web scripting experience (e.g., Flash, Javascript) is desirable. Students taking the graduate version complete a project requiring more in-depth theoretical engagement.
Staff

CMS.315[J] Understanding Television
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21L.432[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.915)
Prereq: One subject in Literature or Comparative Media Studies
Units: 3-0-9
______
A cultural approach to television's evolution as a technology and system of representation. Considers television as a system of storytelling and mythmaking, and as a cultural practice studied from anthropological, literary, and cinematic perspectives. Focuses on prime-time commercial broadcasting, the medium's technological and economic history, and theoretical perspectives. Considerable television viewing and readings in media theory and cultural interpretation are required. Previously taught topics include American Television: A Cultural History. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.334[J] South Asian America: Transnational Media, Culture, and History
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21W.788[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T EVE (7-10 PM) (1-136)
______
Examines the history of South Asian immigration, sojourning, and settlement from the 1880s to the present. Focuses on the US as one node in the global circulation, not only of people, but of media, culture and ideas, through a broader South Asian diaspora. Considers the concept of "global media" historically; emphasis on how ideas about, and self-representations of, South Asians have circulated via books, political pamphlets, performance, film, video/cassette tapes, and the internet. Students analyze and discuss scholarly writings, archival documents, memoirs, fiction, blogs and films, and write papers drawing on course materials, lectures, and discussions. Limited to 18.
V. Bald
No textbook information available

CMS.335[J] Short Attention Span Documentary
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21W.790[J])
(Subject meets with 21W.890)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on the production of short (1- to 5-minute) digital video documentaries: a form of non-fiction filmmaking that has proliferated in recent years due to the ubiquity of palm-sized and mobile phone cameras and the rise of web-based platforms, such as YouTube. Students shoot, edit, workshop and revise a series of short videos meant to engage audiences in a topic, introduce them to new ideas, and/or persuade them. Screenings and discussions cover key principles of documentary film - narrative, style, pace, point of view, argument, character development - examining how they function and change in short format. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 16.
V. Bald

CMS.336[J] Social Justice and The Documentary Film
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21W.786[J], WGS.287[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.836)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (2-103)
______
Explores the history and current state of social-issue documentary. Examines how cultural and political upheaval and technological change have converged at different moments to bring about new waves of activist documentary film production. Particular focus on films and other non-fiction media of the present and recent past. Students screen and analyze a series of key films and work in groups to produce their own short documentary using digital video and computer-based editing. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 18.
V. Bald
No textbook information available

CMS.337[J] Intersectionality, Neurodiversity, and Disability
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as WGS.137[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (4-144)
______
Examines key theoretical concepts, texts, and other media forms by disabled and neurodivergent writers, theorists, activists, and artists. Investigates medical and social models of disability and their interconnections with race, gender, class, sexuality, age, ethnicity, etc. Uses an intersectional lens to address emerging connections between disability and the environment, investigating issues of accessibility in natural and built environments. Explores themes of visibility/invisibility, community, vulnerability, power, access, and creativity.
K. Ragusa
No textbook information available

CMS.338 Innovation in Documentary: Technologies and Techniques
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.838)
Prereq: CMS.100 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Discusses emerging technologies and techniques available to media-makers (e.g., location-based technologies, transmedia storytelling, crowdsourcing, and interactivity) and their implications on the film and television documentary. Studies the development of these tools and considers the many new directions in which they may take the genre. Includes screenings, meetings with documentary makers, and an experimental component in which students can explore new approaches to documentary production. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.339 Virtual Reality and Immersive Media Production
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with CMS.839)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: F2-5 (1-277)
______
Provides an overview of historical developments and current innovations in virtual reality (e.g., gear, software, and storytelling techniques) and looks into new trends in augmented, mixed and holographic reality. Includes practical instruction and a step-by-step exploration of the fundamentals of virtual reality creation - from new visual languages and grammars, to storyboarding, scripting, sound design and editing, to new and innovative ways to capture, scan and reproduce 360-degree images. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 18.
A. SadeghiKivi
No textbook information available

CMS.340 Immersive Media Studies
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Subject meets with CMS.865)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Critical examination of the history, aesthetics, and politics of virtual reality and related media. Focuses on virtual space and embodiment; cultural reception and industry hype; accessibility, surveillance, and data privacy; and debates surrounding the use of immersive media in social, work, art, and entertainment contexts. Projects include experimentation with VR development tools and critical analysis of existing immersive works. Graduate version includes additional research. Enrollment limited to 15.
P. Roquet

CMS.341 Immersive Social Worlds
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with CMS.941)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on critical media sociology of immersive social worlds, from digital environments and avatar-based worlds to live action role-play (LARP) and theme parks. Draws on both historical and contemporary cases. Investigates key issues including communication and community; authorship and co-creativity; embodiment and identity; and ownership, governance, and management. Attention given to cultural and socio-technical nature of these environments and their ongoing construction within a broader media system. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited to 15.
T. L. Taylor

CMS.342[J] Designing Virtual Worlds
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.177[J])
(Subject meets with 2.178[J], CMS.942[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-2-6 [P/D/F]
______
Three primary areas of focus are: creating new Virtual Reality experiences; mapping the state of emerging tools; and hosting guests - leaders in the VR/XR community, who serve as coaches for projects. Students have significant leeway to customize their own learning environment. As the field is rapidly evolving, each semester focuses on a new aspect of virtual worlds, based on the current state of innovations. Students work in teams of interdisciplinary peers from Berklee College of Music and Harvard University. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
K. Zolot

CMS.343[J] The Art and Science of Time Travel
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.984[J])
Prereq: 8.02 and 18.02
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores time travel and other physical paradoxes—black holes, wormholes, and the multiverse—in the contexts of human narrative and contemporary scientific understanding. Instruction provided in the fundamental science of time travel in relativity and quantum mechanics. Students read and view classic time travel narratives in visual art and in film, and construct their own original time travel narratives. Limited to 20.
S. Lloyd, M. Reilly

CMS.351[J] Digital Media in Japan and Korea
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.067[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.597)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the social, cultural, and political stakes of digital culture in Japan and Korea. Focuses on digital media use (and abuse), including the internet, streaming and mobile media, gaming, robots, and augmented realities; the digital remediation of older media; and methods for the study of online life. By considering how digital media use has developed in each country and reshaped identity, politics, public space, and creative practice, students build a conceptual and critical vocabulary for the comparative study of algorithmic cultures. Taught in English.
P. Roquet

CMS.352[J] Cinema in Japan and Korea
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21G.094[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.594)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on landmark art cinema from both countries while providing a thorough introduction to film style. Each week examines a different component of film form, using the close analysis of specific films in their cultural and historical context. Explores the use of video essays as a form of critical analysis. Taught in English.
P. Roquet

CMS.353[J] The New Latin American Novel
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.072[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Students read newly translated, recent fiction from Latin America and consider contemporary issues in, and approaches to, reading and writing literature in the 21st century. Debates the concept of contemporary in these texts and whether we can still talk about a Latin American novel. Reflects on issues of interpretation, authorship, gender, genre, media, ideology and theories of the novel, Latin American literary history, and translation. Authors may include César Aira, Mario Levrero, Samanta Schweblin, Yuri Herrera, Ena Lucía Portela, Valeria Luiselli, Roberto Bolaño, Marlon James, and J. P. Cuenca. Enrollment limited.
P. Duong

CMS.354[J] Japanese Media Cultures
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21G.065[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.593)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (1-273)
______
Examines storytelling media in twentieth and twenty-first century Japan, situating emerging media aesthetics and practices alongside broader shifts in cultural and social life. Engages with pivotal works in a wide range of media including film, literature, anime, manga, and video games, as well as critical concepts in Japanese media studies. Taught in English. 21G.593 includes additional work in Japanese. Enrollment limited.
Consult P. Roquet
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.355[J] Latin America and the Global Sixties: Counterculture and Revolution
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21G.070[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Close reading of political issues, cultural artifacts, and social actors of Latin America during and in the wake of the revolutionary 1960s. Examines how culture and politics addressed the need to conceptually organize a series of events that were equally momentous and confusing. Questions the established stereotypes and assumptions about Latin America and the sixties that are portrayed in its contemporary, often nostalgic, revivals. Focuses on the ideas that defined Latin America's participation in a global trend of political upheavals, emerging youth cultures, and demands for social justice. Taught in English. Enrollment limited.
P. Duong

CMS.356[J] Advertising and Media: Comparative Perspectives
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.036[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.190, CMS.888)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Compares modern and contemporary advertising culture in China, the US, and other emerging markets. First half focuses on branding in the old media environment; second half introduces the changing practice of advertising in the new media environment. Topics include branding and positioning, media planning, social media campaigns, cause marketing 2.0, social TV, and mobility marketing. Required lab work includes interactive sessions in branding a team product for the US (or a European country) and China markets. Taught in English and requires no knowledge of Chinese. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.357[J] Creation of a Continent: Media Representations of Hispanic America, 1492 to present
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.731[J], 21H.274[J])
Prereq: One intermediate Spanish subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Traces the creation of a new literature in Spanish to record and interpret New World experiences. Begins with excerpts from Columbus's diary and ends with writings on the late 19th-century Cuban and Puerto Rican independence movements. Pairs some of these pre-20th-century texts with more recent literary and film interpretations of the first 400 years of Hispanic American history. Conducted in Spanish.
Staff

CMS.358[J] The Short Form: Literature and New Media Cultures in the Hispanic World
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.736[J])
Prereq: One intermediate subject in Spanish or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T EVE (7-10 PM) (56-167)
______
Examines the aesthetics of the brief form across a variety of media and genres in Latin America and Spain, from short stories and snapshots to newspapers and Twitter. Explores the history and social significance of four short genres in the Hispanic world: the short story, the crónica, the poem, and the song. Discusses the rich literary and critical tradition that relates narrative length and temporality to the prose and the lyric in Spanish speaking cultures. With an emphasis on the 20th- and 21st-century epistemologies of acceleration and the remediation of literary theories of brevity, analyzes the relationship between temporality, aesthetic form, and media technologies, and the way these topics have taken shape in the imagination of writers, artists, and audiences in historically specific and politically significant contexts. Taught in Spanish. Limited to 18.
P. Duong
No textbook information available

CMS.359[J] Three Kingdoms: From History to Fiction, Comic, Film, and Game
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.042[J], 21H.352[J], 21L.492[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.133)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (14E-310)
______
Analyzing core chapters of the great Chinese epic novel, Three Kingdoms, and its adaptations across diverse media, considers what underlies the appeal of this classic narrative over the centuries. Through focus on historical events in the period 206 BC to AD 280, examines the representation of power, diplomacy, war, and strategy, and explores the tension among competing models of political authority and legitimacy. Covers basic elements of classical Chinese political and philosophical thought, and literary and cultural history. Final group project involves digital humanities tools. Readings in translation. Films and video in Chinese with English subtitles.
E. Teng
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.360 Introduction to Civic Media
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.860)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines civic media in comparative, transnational and historical perspectives. Introduces various theoretical tools, research approaches, and project design methods. Students engage with multimedia texts on concepts such as citizen journalism, transmedia activism, media justice, and civic, public, radical, and tactical media. Case studies explore civic media across platforms (print, radio, broadcast, internet), contexts (from local to global, present-day to historical), and use (dialogic, contentious, hacktivist). As a final project, students develop a case study or project proposal. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20.
Staff

CMS.361 Networked Social Movements: Media and Mobilization
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.861)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an overview of social movement studies as a body of theoretical and empirical work, with an emphasis on understanding the relationship between social movements and the media. Explores multiple methods of social movement investigation, including textual and media analysis, surveys, interviews, focus groups, participant observation, and co-research. Covers recent innovations in social movement theory, as well as new data sources and tools for research and analysis. Includes short papers, a literature review, and a final research project. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 16.
A. Gibson

CMS.362 Civic Media Collaborative Design Studio
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.862)
Prereq: One subject in CMS or MAS
Units: 3-0-9
______
Project-based studio focusing on collaborative design of civic media provides a service-learning opportunity for students interested in working with community organizations. Multidisciplinary teams create civic media projects based on real-world community needs. Covers co-design methods and best practices to include the user community in iterative stages of project ideation, design, implementation, testing, and evaluation. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 16.
Staff

CMS.374[J] Transmedia Art, Extraction, and Environmental Justice
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 4.376[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.877)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-3-7
______
Exploration of today's extractive economies and the role that artists, media-makers, and transmedia producers play in shaping public perception, individual choices, and movement-building towards sustainability. Traces the contingent geological, material, community, and toxic histories of extracted materials used throughout our built environment, as well as civic resistance and reform that could alter extraction practices. Scaffolded workshops with artists and media producers support students' production of creative documentary and other media projects. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.375 Reading Climate Through Media
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Subject meets with CMS.875)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores how climate is construed in the contemporary media in order to gain a better understanding of how views of climate change are shaped and received in the public sphere. Studies the pathways that take us from climate science to media content, from the big data of global scale to the particulars and narratives of the human experience. Surveys a variety of media forms--reports, articles, comics, videos, films, photography, poetry and fiction--that reflect on the contemporary human challenges of dealing with a changing natural environment of our own making. Emphasizes the role of media in shaping public opinion, both in the US and globally, and its influence on public (and voter) perceptions on which a vast body of regulation and funding for environmental management is based. Students work individually and in teams to produce a selection of the media forms studied. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20.
K. Tarker

CMS.376 History of Media and Technology
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Subject meets with CMS.876)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys the interrelated histories of communications media and technological development, from the emergence of 19th-century forms of mass print media and telegraphy, to sound capture and image-based forms (e.g., film, radio, and television), to the shift from analog to digital cultures. Examines how new forms of communication exert social, political, and cultural influences in the global context. Explores how technological innovation and accelerating media affect social values and behaviors in the popular and global adoption of a media device. Includes two papers and a research project on aspects of media history. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited.
M. Battles

CMS.400 Media Systems and Texts
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: One subject in Comparative Media Studies or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (14E-310)
______
Explores theoretical, historical and critical approaches to the comparative study of media. Examines media from three perspectives: the historical evolution of particular media forms (media in transition); the migration of particular narratives across different media forms (trans-media texts); and the ways in which media texts and systems cross cultural and national boundaries (global crossings). Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided.
P. Roquet
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.405 Visual Design
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: 21L.011 or CMS.100
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the process of making and sharing visual artifacts using a trans-cultural, trans-historical, constructionist approach. Explores the relationship between perceived reality and the narrative imagination, how an author's choice of medium and method constrains the work, how desire is integrated into the structure of a work, and how the cultural/economic opportunity for exhibition/distribution affects the realization of a work. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Limited to 20.
O. Padilla

CMS.406[J] The Anthropology of Sound
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.505[J], STS.065[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the ways humans experience sound and how perceptions and technologies of sound emerge from cultural, economic, and historical worlds. Consider how the sound/noise/music boundaries have been imagined, created, and modeled across sociocultural and historical contexts. Learn how environmental, linguistic, and musical sounds are construed cross-culturally as well as the rise of telephony, architectural acoustics, sound recording, multi-channel and spatial mix performance, and the globalized travel of these technologies. Questions of sound ownership, property, authorship, remix, and copyright in the digital age are also addressed.
I. Condry

CMS.407 Sound Studies
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the ways in which humans experience the realm of sound and how perceptions and technologies of sound emerge from cultural, economic, and historical worlds. Examines how environmental, linguistic, and musical sounds are construed cross-culturally. Describes the rise of telephony, architectural acoustics, and sound recording, and the globalized travel of these technologies. Addresses questions of ownership, property, authorship, and copyright in the age of digital file sharing. Particular focus on how the sound/noise boundary is imagined, created and modeled across diverse sociocultural and scientific contexts. Auditory examples--sound art, environmental recordings, music--will be provided and invited. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Limited to 20.
Staff

CMS.418[J] Gender in the Visual Arts
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as WGS.118[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores gender and race through interdisciplinary perspectives from film and visual studies, art history, and performance studies. Provides an overview of methodologies and practices, with an emphasis on contemporary artists working across mediums. Contextualizes artistic output within broader systems of power and cultural institutions. Reflects on the politics of visibility, hypervisibility, and invisibility through an intersectional feminist approach that draws on perspectives from trans*, queer, feminist, dis/ability, and critical race theory. Lectures are supplemented by screenings, discussions, workshops, guest lectures, and optional field trips. Culminates in a final creative project that includes a presentation.
Staff

CMS.481[J] Queer Cinema and Visual Culture
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as WGS.181[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Analyzes mainstream, popular films produced in the post-WWII 20th century US as cultural texts that shed light on ongoing historical struggles over gender identity and appropriate sexual behaviors. Traces the history of LGBTQ/queer film through the 20th and into the 21st century. Examines the effect of the Hollywood Production Code and censorship of sexual themes and content, and the subsequent subversion of queer cultural production in embedded codes and metaphors. Also considers the significance of these films as artifacts and examples of various aspects of queer theory.
Staff

CMS.524[J] Thinking on Your Feet: Dance as a Learning Science
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as STS.024[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the past, present, and future of dance as a learning science. Combines readings and discussion with experiential learning. Readings span the science of movement and learning, studies of educational dance, and research on school reform. Lab exercises led by guest artists introduce the rich possibilities of dance for teaching subjects across the curriculum. For their final project, students choreograph a lesson on a topic of their choosing. This is an introductory class; no dance background is required. Limited to 20 students.
J. S. Light

CMS.586[J] Introduction to Education: Looking Forward and Looking Back on Education
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 11.124[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-6-3
______
One of two introductory subjects on teaching and learning science and mathematics in a variety of K-12 settings. Topics include education and media, education reform, the history of education, simulations, games, and the digital divide. Students gain practical experience through weekly visits to schools, classroom discussions, selected readings, and activities to develop a critical and broad understanding of past and current forces that shape the goals and processes of education, and explores the challenges and opportunities of teaching. Students work collaboratively and individually on papers, projects, and in-class presentations. Limited to 25.
M. Hughes

CMS.587[J] Introduction to Education: Understanding and Evaluating Education
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 11.125[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-6-3
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (56-154) Lab: TBA
______
One of two introductory subjects on teaching and learning science and mathematics in a variety of K-12 settings. Topics include student misconceptions, formative assessment, standards and standardized testing, multiple intelligences, and educational technology. Students gain practical experience through weekly visits to schools, classroom discussions, selected readings, and activities to develop a critical and broad understanding of past and current forces that shape the goals and processes of education, and explores the challenges and opportunities of teaching. Students work collaboratively and individually on papers, projects, and in-class presentations. Limited to 25.
J. Gardony, M. Hughes
No textbook information available

CMS.590[J] Design and Development of Games for Learning
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 11.127[J])
(Subject meets with 11.252[J], CMS.863[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-6-3
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (E25-117) Lab: TBA
______
Immerses students in the process of building and testing their own digital and board games in order to better understand how we learn from games. Explores the design and use of games in the classroom in addition to research and development issues associated with computer-based (desktop and handheld) and non-computer-based media. In developing their own games, students examine what and how people learn from them (including field testing of products), as well as how games can be implemented in educational settings. All levels of computer experience welcome. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Haas
No textbook information available

CMS.591[J] Educational Theory and Practice I
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 11.129[J])
Prereq: None. Coreq: CMS.586
Units: 3-0-9
______
Concentrates on core set of skills and knowledge necessary for teaching in secondary schools. Topics include classroom management, student behavior and motivation, curriculum design, educational reform, and the teaching profession. Classroom observation is a key component. Assignments include readings from educational literature, written reflections on classroom observations, practice teaching and constructing curriculum. The first of the three-course sequence necessary to complete the Teacher Education Program. Limited to 15; preference to juniors and seniors.
G. Schwanbeck

CMS.592[J] Educational Theory and Practice II
______

Undergrad (IAP)
(Same subject as 11.130[J])
Prereq: CMS.591
Units: 3-0-9
______
Concentrates on the theory and psychology associated with student learning. Topics include educational theory, educational psychology, and theories of learning. Students assume responsibility for full-time teaching of two or more classes at their designated school. Class sessions focus on debriefing and problem-solving. Second of a three-course sequence necessary to complete the Teacher Education Program.
G. Schwanbeck
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.593[J] Educational Theory and Practice III
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 11.131[J])
Prereq: CMS.592
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR4-5.30 (56-169)
______
Students continue their IAP student teaching through mid March. Topics include educational psychology, theories of learning, and using technology and evaluating its effectiveness to enhance student learning. Assignments include readings from educational literature, written reflections on student teaching, presentations on class topics and creating a project that supports student learning at the school where the MIT student is teaching. This is the third of the three-course sequence necessary to complete the Teacher Education Program.
G. Schwanbeck
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.594 Education Technology Studio
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with CMS.894)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Uses media and technology to develop new forms of learning experiences for schools, workplace, and informal settings. Students participate in a range of projects that hone understanding and skills in learning science, instructional design, development, and evaluation. Topics vary but include developing new media and activities for massive open online courses, creating practice spaces for practitioners in the professions and humanities, and developing new approaches to assessment in complex learning environments. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if project content differs. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
G.R. Marvez

CMS.595 Learning, Media, and Technology
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with CMS.895)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1.30-3 (E15-335)
______
Addresses new digital technologies that are transforming learning across the lifespan - from reading apps for toddlers, intelligent tutors for school children, and blended learning for college students, to MOOCs for adults and interest-based learning communities for hobbyists. Focuses on how these technologies shape people's lives and learning. Students explore how education technologies operate in complex social-technical systems, and acquire analytic tools and strategies that can be applied to other complex systems. They also refine their thinking about the opportunities, limits, and tradeoffs of educational technology. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
G.R. Marvez
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

CMS.603 Independent Study
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for individual research in comparative media studies. Registration subject to prior arrangement for subject matter and supervision by a faculty member.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.604 Independent Study
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Opportunity for individual research in comparative media studies. Registration subject to prior arrangement for subject matter and supervision by a faculty member.
Fall: D. Solomon
IAP: D. Solomon
Spring: D. Solomon
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.605 Media Internship
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Part-time internships arranged in Boston and the wider Northeast for students wishing to develop professional experience in a media production organization or industry. Students work with a CMS faculty advisor to produce a white paper on a research topic of interest based on their intern experience. Students planning to take this subject must contact the instructor before the end of the preceding term.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Paradis, James G.
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.606 Media Internship
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Part-time internships arranged in Boston and the wider Northeast for students wishing to develop professional experience in a media production organization or industry. Students work with a CMS/W faculty advisor to produce a white paper on a research topic of interest based on their intern experience. Students planning to take this subject must contact the instructor before the end of the preceding term.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.609[J] Computational and Experimental Writing Workshop
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 21W.764[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.846)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W2-5 (5-233)
______
Students study and use innovative compositional techniques, focusing on new writing methods. Using approaches ranging from poetics to computer science, students undertake critical and creative writing, with writing experiments culminating in print or digital projects. Students read, listen to, and create different types of work, including sound poetry, cut-ups, constrained and Oulipian writing, uncreative writing, false translations, artists' books, and digital projects ranging from video games to computer-generated books. Digital art and literature, analyzed and discussed in the contexts of history, culture, and computing platforms, are covered, as well as avant-garde writing methods, situated in their historical contexts. Topics vary by year; may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 18.
N. Montfort
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

CMS.611[J] Creating Video Games
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 6.4570[J])
Prereq: 6.100A or CMS.301
Units: 3-3-6
______
Introduces students to the complexities of working in small, multidisciplinary teams to develop video games. Covers creative design and production methods, stressing design iteration and regular testing across all aspects of game development (design, visual arts, music, fiction, and programming). Assumes a familiarity with current video games, and the ability to discuss games critically. Previous experience in audio design, visual arts, or project management recommended. Limited to 36.
P. Tan, S. Verrilli, R. Eberhardt

CMS.614[J] Critical Internet Studies
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21W.791[J], WGS.280[J])
(Subject meets with IDS.405)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W2-5 (56-169)
______
Focuses on the power dynamics in internet-related technologies (including social networking platforms, surveillance technology, entertainment technologies, and emerging media forms). Theories and readings focus on the cultural, social, economic, and political aspects of internet use and design, with a special attention to gender and race. Topics include: online communication and communities, algorithms and search engines, activism and online resistance, surveillance and privacy, content moderation and platform governance, and the spread of dis- and misinformation. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Students taking the graduate version complete additional readings and assignments.
T. L. Taylor
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.615 Games for Social Change
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.815)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines how various movements have tried over time to create games that enable players to enact social change. Students collaborate in teams to design and prototype games for social change and civic engagement. In a workshop setting, teams develop games and showcase them at an end-of-term open house. Features guest speakers from academia and industry as well as the nonprofit sector and the gaming community. Readings explore principals of game design and the social history of games. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. Gordon

CMS.616[J] Games and Culture
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21W.768[J], WGS.125[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.868)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of digital games. Topics include the culture of gameplay, gaming styles, communities, spectatorship and performance, gender and race within digital gaming, and the politics and economics of production processes, including co-creation and intellectual property. Students taking graduate version complete additional readings and assignments.
T.L. Taylor

CMS.618[J] Interactive Narrative
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21L.489[J], 21W.765[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.845)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a workshop environment for understanding interactive narrative (print and digital) through critical writing, narrative theory, and creative practice. Covers important multisequential books, hypertexts, and interactive fictions. Students write critically, and give presentations, about specific works; write a short multisequential fiction; and develop a digital narrative system, which involves significant writing and either programming or the structuring of text. Programming ability helpful.
N. Montfort

CMS.619[J] Gender and Media Studies
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as WGS.111[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines representations of race, gender, and sexual identity in the media. Considers issues of authorship, spectatorship, and the ways in which various media (film, television, print journalism, advertising) enable, facilitate, and challenge these social constructions in society. Studies the impact of new media and digital media through analysis of gendered and racialized language and embodiment online in blogs and vlogs, avatars, and in the construction of cyberidentities. Provides introduction to feminist approaches to media studies by drawing from work in feminist film theory, cultural studies, gender and politics, and cyberfeminism.
Arain, Hafsa

CMS.621 Fans and Fan Cultures
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines media audiences - specifically, fans - and the subcultures that evolve around them. Examines the different historical, contemporary and transnational understandings of fans. Explores products of fan culture, i.e., clubs, fiction, "vids," activism, etc. Readings place these products within the context of various disciplines. Students consider the concept of the "aca-fan" and reflect on their own "fannish" practices. Requires several short papers. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20.
E. Schiappa

CMS.627 Imagination, Computation, and Expression Studio
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with CMS.827)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Aims to help students invent and analyze new forms of computer-based art, gaming, social media, interactive narrative, and related technologies. Students participate in a range of new and ongoing projects that are designed to hone skills in research, development, design, and evaluation. Topics vary from year to year; examples include cognitive science and artificial intelligence-based approaches to the arts; social aspects of game design; computing for social empowerment; and game character, avatar, and online profile design. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
D. F. Harrell

CMS.628[J] Advanced Identity Representation
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as WGS.167[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.828)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies and develops computational identity systems for games, social media, virtual worlds, and computer-based artwork. An interdisciplinary set of readings (cognitive science, computer science, art, and sociology) looks at both the underlying technology and the social/cultural aspects of identity. Includes topics such as developing improved characters, avatars, agents, social networking profiles, and online accounts. Engages students in on-going research projects. Explores how social categories are formed in digital media, including gender, class, and ethnicity, along with everyday social categories (such as those based on personality or shared media preferences). Experience required in one of the following: computer programming, graphic design, web development, interaction design, or social science research methods. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.631 Data Storytelling Studio
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.831)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores visualization methodologies to conceive and represent systems and data, e.g., financial, media, economic, political, etc. Covers basic methods for research, cleaning, and analysis of datasets. Introduces creative methods of data presentation and storytelling. Considers the emotional, aesthetic, ethical, and practical effects of different presentation methods as well as how to develop metrics for assessing impact. Work centers on readings, visualization exercises, and a final project. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.633 Digital Humanities: Topics, Techniques, and Technologies
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Subject meets with CMS.833)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines theory and practice of using computational methods in the emerging field of digital humanities. Develops a critical understanding of key digital humanities concepts such as data representation, digital curation, information visualization, and user interaction through the study of contemporary research in conjunction with working on real-world projects for scholarly, educational, and public needs. Students create prototypes, write design papers, and conduct user studies. Some programming and design experience is helpful but not required. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.634 Designing Interactions
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Elective Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Explores the future of mobile interactions and pervasive computing, taking into consideration design, technological, social and business aspects. Discusses theoretical works on human-computer interaction, mobile media and interaction design, and covers research and design methods. Students work in multidisciplinary teams and participate in user-centric design projects aimed to study, imagine and prototype concepts illustrating the future of mobile applications and ubiquitous computing. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Repeatable for credit with permission of instructor. Limited to 12.
Staff

CMS.635 Designing Active Archives
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.835)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Investigates the digital archive as an emerging platform for critical inquiry and creative engagement through analysis, conceptualization, and experimentation with user-oriented design. Readings provide theoretical, analytical, and practical perspectives on topics such as participatory digital culture, data curation, visualization, and the archive's role in activism. Students work throughout the term to develop a group project. Students taking graduate version complete additional readings and assignments.
Staff

CMS.636 Extending the Museum
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Subject meets with CMS.855)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW3-4.30 (E15-335)
______
Investigates the museum as a participatory public space and rethinks visitor engagement and museum education in light of digital technologies, including extended reality (XR) technologies. Students develop concepts, models, and prototypes that integrate physical and digital spaces in novel ways in close collaboration with partners at local museums. Readings provide theoretical, critical, and analytical foundations for collaborative class projects. Students taking graduate version complete additional readings and assignments.
M. Battles
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

CMS.701 Current Debates in Media
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities
(Subject meets with CMS.901)
Prereq: CMS.100
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW3-4.30 (4-251)
______
Addresses important, current debates in media with in-depth discussion of popular perceptions and policy implications. Students use multiple perspectives to analyze texts emanating from these debates, and present their findings through discussions and reports. Explores emerging topics (e.g., piracy and IP regimes, net neutrality, media effects, social media and social change, and changing literacies) across media forms and from various historical, transcultural, and methodological perspectives. Examines the framing of these issues, their ethical and policy implications, and strategies for repositioning the debate. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Fall: I. Condry
Spring: P. Duong
No textbook information available

CMS.702 Qualitative Research Methods
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with CMS.802)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T2-5 (56-191)
______
Focuses on a number of qualitative social science methods including interviewing, participant observation, focus groups, cultural probes, and visual sociology. Primary emphasis on understanding and learning concrete techniques that can be evaluated and utilized in any given project. Data organization and analysis will be addressed. Several advanced critical thematics are also covered, including ethics, reciprocity, "studying up," and risk. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
T. L. Taylor
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.C35[J] Interactive Data Visualization and Society
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.C35[J], 11.C35[J], IDS.C35[J])
(Subject meets with 6.C85[J], 11.C85[J], IDS.C85[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-4-8
Credit cannot also be received for 6.8530, 11.154, 11.454
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (45-230) Lab: R3 (45-102)
______
Covers the design, ethical, and technical skills for creating effective visualizations. Short assignments build familiarity with the data analysis and visualization design process. Weekly lab sessions present coding and technical skills. A final project provides experience working with real-world big data, provided by external partners, in order to expose and communicate insights about societal issues. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited. Enrollment limited.
C. D'Ignazio, C. Lee, A. Satyanarayan
No textbook information available

CMS.S60[J] Special Subject: Rap Theory and Practice
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 21L.S60[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.S96)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W2-5 (1-150)
______
To gain a deeper understanding of rap, students engage in the full process of creating rap music, including composing lyrics, recording, performing, and creating an EP length album. Existing rap music is studied, selected lyrics are analyzed, and possible reasons for the structure and success of different songs are presented in case studies. Students analyze rap songs, reflect on their own weekly activities in writing and present their work in class by playing recordings, performing and responding to each other in workshop discussions. Licensed for Fall 2024 by the Committee on Curricula. Limited to 10.
W. Jaco
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

CMS.S61 Special Subject: Comparative Media Studies
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
Staff

CMS.S62 Special Subject: Comparative Media Studies
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
D. Solomon
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.S63 Special Subject: Comparative Media Studies
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
D. Solomon
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.THT Comparative Media Studies Pre-Thesis Tutorial
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Prereq: Permission of advisor
Units: 1-0-5
TBA.
______
Student works with an advisor to define his/her thesis. By the end of the term, student must have a substantial outline and bibilography for thesis and must have selected a three-person thesis committee. Advisor must approve outline and bibliography.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.THU Undergraduate Thesis in Comparative Media Studies
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: CMS.THT
Units arranged
TBA.
______
The CMS Undergraduate Thesis is a substantial research project or comparable exercise. A written thesis ranges in length from 35 to 50 pages. Digital projects are assessed on the quality of research and argumentation, as well as presentation, and must include a substantial written component. Student gives an oral presentation of his/her thesis at the end of the term. Thesis is not required for CMS majors.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.UR Research in Comparative Media Studies
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Individual participation in an ongoing research project. For students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.URG Research in Comparative Media Studies
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Individual participation in an ongoing research project. For students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

Graduate Subjects

CMS.790 Media Theories and Methods I
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
______
An advanced introduction to core theoretical and methodological issues in comparative media studies. Topics covered typically include the nature of theory, the gathering and evaluation of evidence, the relationship of media to reality, formal approaches to media analysis, the ethnographic documentation of media audiences, cultural hierarchy and taste, modes of production, models of readership and spectatorship.
W. Uricchio

CMS.791 Media Theories and Methods II
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: CMS.790
Units: 3-3-6
______
An advanced introduction to core theoretical and methodological issues in comparative media studies. Topics covered typically include globalization, propaganda and persuasion, social and political effects of media change, political economy and the institutional analysis of media ownership, online communities, privacy and intellectual property, and the role of news and information within democratic cultures.
Staff

CMS.796 Major Media Texts
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
______
Intensive close study and analysis of historically significant media "texts" that have been considered landmarks or have sustained extensive critical and scholarly discussion. Such texts may include oral epic, story cycles, plays, novels, films, opera, television drama and digital works. Emphasizes close reading from a variety of contextual and aesthetic perspectives. Syllabus varies each year, and may be organized around works that have launched new modes and genres, works that reflect upon their own media practices, or on stories that migrate from one medium to another. At least one of the assigned texts is collaboratively taught, and visiting lectures and discussions are a regular feature of the subject.
N. Montfort

CMS.801 Media in Transition
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Centers on historical eras in which the form and function of media technologies were radically transformed. Includes consideration of the "Gutenberg Revolution," the rise of modern mass media, and the "digital revolution," among other case studies of media transformation and cultural change. Readings in cultural and social history and historiographic method.
Staff

CMS.802 Qualitative Research Methods
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with CMS.702)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T2-5 (56-191)
______
Focuses on a number of qualitative social science methods including interviewing, participant observation, focus groups, cultural probes, and visual sociology. Primary emphasis on understanding and learning concrete techniques that can be evaluated and utilized  in any given project. Data organization and analysis will be addressed. Several advanced critical thematics are also covered, including ethics, reciprocity, "studying up," and risk. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
T. L. Taylor
No textbook information available

CMS.803 DJ History, Technique, and Technology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with 21M.365[J], CMS.303[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (E15-318)
______
Students explore a chosen contemporary or historical dance scene from around the world. Lectures examine the evolution of the craft and technologies of the DJ. Presents foundational practices of live DJ mixing; practice equipment is accessible to teams of students. Assignments include writing a report analyzing a book on DJ history or technique, producing a complete mix, and participation in an end-of-term performance. No prior experience is necessary, but students must sustain interest in some form of popular dance music, broadly defined. Graduate students complete additional assignments. Limited to 24.
Fall: P. Tan
Spring: P. Tan
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

CMS.806 Making Comics and Sequential Art
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.306)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Applied introduction to comics and sequential art production. Builds skills in how to develop storylines; develop and draw characters, panels, and backgrounds; prepare for print production; and comprehend the basics of sequential language, composition, and layout. Students engage with crucial personal and political issues at stake across a range of comics genres: superhero, biographical, and countercultural. Addresses not just how we create comics, but why we create comics. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 16.
Staff

CMS.807 Critical Worldbuilding
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with CMS.307)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Studies the design and analysis of invented (or constructed) worlds for narrative media, such as television, films, comics, and literary texts. Provides the practical, historical and critical tools with which to understand the function and structure of imagined worlds. Examines world-building strategies in the various media and genres in order to develop a critical and creative repertoire. Participants create their own invented worlds. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 13.
J. Diaz

CMS.809 Transmedia Storytelling: Modern Science Fiction
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 21W.763[J], CMS.309[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-7
______
Explores transmedia storytelling by investigating how science fiction stories are told across different media, such as the short story, the novel, the screenplay, moving image, and games. Students consider issues of aesthetics, authorship, and genre, while also contextualizing discussion within the broader framework of the political issues raised by film, TV, and other kinds of science fiction texts. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.813 Silent Film
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Examines how the key elements of today's films - composition, continuity editing, lighting, narrative structure - were originally created. Studies the history of cinema, from its origins in the late 19th century to the transition to sound in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Students view a range of films (both mainstream and experimental) from all over the world, with a particular focus on US productions. Emphasis on how color, sound, and other developments paved the way for today's technological innovations. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
H. Hendershot

CMS.814 Phantasmal Media: Computer-Based Art Theory and Practice
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21W.753[J], CMS.314[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Engages students in theory and practice of using computational techniques for developing expressive digital media works. Surveys approaches to understanding human imaginative processes, such as constructing concepts, metaphors, and narratives, and applies them to producing and understanding socially, culturally, and critically meaningful works in digital media. Readings engage a variety of theoretical perspectives from cognitive linguistics, literary and cultural theory, semiotics, digital media arts, and computer science. Students produce interactive narratives, games, and related forms of software art. Some programming and/or interactive web scripting experience (e.g., Flash, Javascript) is desirable. Students taking the graduate version complete a project requiring more in-depth theoretical engagement.
D. F. Harrell

CMS.815 Games for Social Change
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.615)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Students will collaborate in teams to design and prototype games for social change and civic engagement. Run as a workshop in which student teams develop their games and showcase them at a semester-end open house. Features guest speakers from academia and industry as well as the non-profit sector and the gaming community. Readings will explore principals of game design, and the social history of games. Graduate students will complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.821 Fans and Fan Cultures
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines media audiences - specifically, fans - and the subcultures that evolve around them. Examines the different historical, contemporary and transnational understandings of fans. Explores products of fan culture, i.e., clubs, fiction, "vids," activism, etc. Readings place these products within the context of various disciplines. Students consider the concept of the "aca-fan" and reflect on their own "fannish" practices. Requires several short papers. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20.
E. Schiappa

CMS.827 Imagination, Computation, and Expression Studio
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with CMS.627)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Aims to help students invent and analyze new forms of computer-based art, gaming, social media, interactive narrative, and related technologies. Students participate in a range of new and ongoing projects that are designed to hone skills in research, development, design, and evaluation. Topics vary from year to year; examples include cognitive science and artificial intelligence-based approaches to the arts; social aspects of game design; computing for social empowerment; and game character, avatar, and online profile design. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
D. F. Harrell

CMS.828 Advanced Identity Representation
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.628[J], WGS.167[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies and develops computational identity systems for games, social media, virtual worlds, and computer-based artwork. An interdisciplinary set of readings (cognitive science, computer science, art, and sociology) looks at both the underlying technology and the social/cultural aspects of identity. Includes topics such as developing improved characters, avatars, agents, social networking profiles, and online accounts. Engages students in on-going research projects. Explores how social categories are formed in digital media, including gender, class, and ethnicity, along with everyday social categories (such as those based on personality or shared media preferences). Experience required in one of the following: computer programming, graphic design, web development, interaction design, or social science research methods. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
D. F. Harrell

CMS.830 Studies in Film
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21L.706)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
______
Intensive study of films from particular periods, genres, or directors, or films focusing on specific formal or theoretical problems. Previous topics include The Contemporary Horror Film, Film Remixes, Film Narrative, Heroic Cinema, and Color in Film. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs. Limited to 12.
Staff

CMS.831 Data Storytelling Studio
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.631)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores visualization methodologies to conceive and represent systems and data, e.g., financial, media, economic, political, etc. Covers basic methods for research, cleaning, and analysis of datasets. Introduces creative methods of data presentation and storytelling. Considers the emotional, aesthetic, ethical, and practical effects of different presentation methods as well as how to develop metrics for assessing impact. Work centers on readings, visualization exercises, and a final project. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.833 Digital Humanities: Topics, Techniques, and Technologies
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.633)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines theory and practice of using computational methods in the emerging field of digital humanities. Develops an understanding of key digital humanities concepts such as data representation, digital archives, information visualization, and user interaction through the study of contemporary research in conjunction with working on real-world projects for scholarly, educational, and public needs. Students create prototypes, write design papers, and conduct user studies. Some programming and design experience is helpful but not required. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.834 Designing Interactions
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Explores the future of mobile interactions and pervasive computing, taking into consideration design, technological, social and business aspects. Discusses theoretical works on human-computer interaction, mobile media and interaction design, and covers research and design methods. Students work in multidisciplinary teams and participate in user-centric design projects aimed to study, imagine and prototype concepts illustrating the future of mobile applications and ubiquitous computing. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Repeatable for credit with permission of instructor. Limited to 12.
Staff

CMS.835 Desiging Active Archives
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.635)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Investigates the digital archive as an emerging platform for critical inquiry and creative engagement through analysis, conceptualization, and experimentation with user-oriented design. Readings provide theoretical, analytical, and practical perspectives on topics such as participatory digital culture, data curation, visualization, and the archive's role in activism. Students work throughout the term to develop a group project. Students taking graduate version complete additional readings and assignments.
Staff

CMS.836 Social Justice and The Documentary Film
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 21W.786[J], CMS.336[J], WGS.287[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (2-103)
______
Explores the history and current state of social-issue documentary. Examines how cultural and political upheaval and technological change have converged at different moments to bring about new waves of activist documentary film production. Particular focus on films and other non-fiction media of the present and recent past. Students screen and analyze a series of key films and work in groups to produce their own short documentary using digital video and computer-based editing. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 18.
V. Bald
No textbook information available

CMS.837 Film, Music, and Social Change: Intersections of Media and Society
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21W.787)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines films from the 1950s onward that document music subcultures and moments of social upheaval. Combines screening films about free jazz, glam rock, punk, reggae, hip-hop, and other genres with an examination of critical/scholarly writings to illuminate the connections between film, popular music, and processes of social change. Students critique each film in terms of the social, political, and cultural world it documents, and the historical context and effects of the film's reception. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 18.
V. Bald

CMS.838 Innovation in Documentary: Technologies and Techniques
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.338)
Prereq: CMS.100 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Discusses emerging technologies and techniques available to media-makers (e.g., location-based technologies, transmedia storytelling, crowdsourcing, and interactivity) and their implications on the film and television documentary. Studies the development of these tools and considers the many new directions in which they may take the genre. Includes screenings, meetings with documentary makers, and an experimental component in which students can explore new approaches to documentary production. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.839 Virtual Reality and Immersive Media Production
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with CMS.339)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: F2-5 (1-277)
______
Provides an overview of historical developments and current innovations in virtual reality (e.g., gear, software, and storytelling techniques) and looks into new trends in augmented, mixed and holographic reality. Includes practical instruction and a step-by-step exploration of the fundamentals of virtual reality creation - from new visual languages and grammars, to storyboarding, scripting, sound design and editing, to new and innovative ways to capture, scan and reproduce 360-degree images. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 18.
A. SadeghiKiva
No textbook information available

CMS.840 Literature and Film
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21L.435)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (4-253)
______
Investigates relationships between the two media, including film adaptations as well as works linked by genre, topic, and style. Explores how artworks challenge and cross cultural, political, and aesthetic boundaries. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. Doyle
No textbook information available

CMS.841 Game Studies
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with CMS.300)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Introduction to the interdisciplinary study of videogames as texts through an examination of their cultural, educational, and social functions in contemporary settings. Students play and analyze videogames while reading current research and theory from a variety of sources in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and industry. Assignments focus on game analysis in the context of the theories discussed in class. Includes regular reading, writing, and presentation exercises. No prior programming experience required. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20.
M. Jakobsson

CMS.844 Exploratory Programming for the Arts and Humanities
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-1-8
______
Introduces programming through "free projects" in which students choose (or discover) the direction of their project through exploration. Covers the fundamentals of programming and how to develop a programming practice. Students complete analytical and generative projects, using different media. Examines how to think with computation, how computation and media interact, and how computation can be understood as a part of culture. No background in programming required. Limited to 18.
Staff

CMS.845 Interactive Narrative
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 21L.489[J], 21W.765[J], CMS.618[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a workshop environment for understanding interactive narrative (print and digital) through critical writing, narrative theory, and creative practice. Covers important multisequential books, hypertexts, and interactive fictions. Students write critically, and give presentations, about specific works; write a short multisequential fiction; and develop a digital narrative system, which involves significant writing and either programming or the structuring of text. Programming ability helpful. Graduate students complete additional assignments.
N. Montfort

CMS.846 Computational and Experimental Writing Workshop
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21W.764[J], CMS.609[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W2-5 (5-233)
______
Students study and use innovative compositional techniques, focusing on new writing methods. Using approaches ranging from poetics to computer science, students undertake critical and creative writing, with writing experiments culminating in print or digital projects. Students read, listen to, and create different types of work, including sound poetry, cut-ups, constrained and Oulipian writing, uncreative writing, false translations, artists' books, and digital projects ranging from video games to computer-generated books. Digital art and literature, analyzed and discussed in the contexts of history, culture, and computing platforms are covered, as well as avant-garde writing methods, situated in their historical contexts. Topics vary by year; may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 18.
N. Montfort
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

CMS.848 Apocalyptic Storytelling
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 21W.748)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on the critical making of apocalyptic, post-apocalyptic and dystopian stories across various narrative media. Considers the long history of Western apocalypticism as well as the uses and abuses of apocalypticism across time. Examines a wide variety of influential texts in order to enhance students' creative and theoretical repertoires. Students create their own apocalyptic stories and present on selected texts. Investigates conventions such as plague, zombies, nuclear destruction, robot uprising, alien invasion, environmental collapse, and supernatural calamities. Considers questions of race, gender, sexuality, colonialism, trauma, memory, witness, and genocide. Intended for students with prior creative writing experience. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 15.
J. Diaz

CMS.855 Extending the Museum
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.636)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Investigates the museum as a participatory public space and rethinks visitor engagement and museum education in light of digital technologies, including extended reality (XR) technologies. Students develop concepts, models, and prototypes that integrate physical and digital spaces in novel ways in close collaboration with partners at local museums. Readings provide theoretical, critical, and analytical foundations for collaborative class projects. Students taking graduate version complete additional readings and assignments.
Staff

CMS.860 Introduction to Civic Media
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.360)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines civic media in comparative, transnational and historical perspective. Introduces various theoretical tools, research approaches, and project design methods. Students engage with multimedia texts on concepts such as citizen journalism, transmedia activism, media justice, and civic, public, radical, and tactical media. Case studies explore civic media across platforms (print, radio, broadcast, internet), contexts (from local to global, present-day to historical), and use (dialogic, contentious, hacktivist). As a final project, students develop a case study or project proposal. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to20.
Staff

CMS.861 Networked Social Movements: Media and Mobilization
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.361)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an overview of social movement studies as a body of theoretical and empirical work, with an emphasis on understanding the relationship between social movements and the media. Explores multiple methods of social movement investigation, including textual and media analysis, surveys, interviews, focus groups, participant observation, and co-research. Covers recent innovations in social movement theory, as well as new data sources and tools for research and analysis. Includes short papers, a literature review, and a final research project. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 16.
A. Gibson

CMS.862 Civic Media Collaborative Design Studio
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with CMS.362)
Prereq: One subject in CMS or MAS
Units: 3-0-9
______
Project-based studio focusing on collaborative design of civic media provides a service-learning opportunity for students interested in working with community organizations. Multidisciplinary teams create civic media projects based on real-world community needs. Covers co-design methods and best practices to include the user community in iterative stages of project ideation, design, implementation, testing, and evaluation. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 16.
Staff

CMS.863[J] Design and Development of Games for Learning
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 11.252[J])
(Subject meets with 11.127[J], CMS.590[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-6-3
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (E25-117) Lab: TBA
______
Immerses students in the process of building and testing their own digital and board games in order to better understand how we learn from games. Explores the design and use of games in the classroom in addition to research and development issues associated with computer-based (desktop and handheld) and non-computer-based media. In developing their own games, students examine what and how people learn from them (including field testing of products), as well as how games can be implemented in educational settings. All levels of computer experience welcome. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Haas
No textbook information available

CMS.864 Game Design
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: One subject in Comparative Media Studies or permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
______
Practical instruction in the design and analysis of non-digital games. Provides students the texts, tools, references, and historical context to analyze and compare game designs across a variety of genres. In teams, students design, develop, and thoroughly test their original games to better understand the interaction and evolution of game rules. Covers various genres and types of games, including sports, game shows, games of chance, card games, schoolyard games, board games, and role-playing games. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20.
P. Tan, R. Eberhardt

CMS.865 Immersive Media Studies
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with CMS.340)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Critical examination of the history, aesthetics, and politics of virtual reality and related media. Focuses on virtual space and embodiment; cultural reception and industry hype; accessibility, surveillance, and data privacy; and debates surrounding the use of immersive media in social, work, art, and entertainment contexts. Projects include experimentation with VR development tools and critical analysis of existing immersive works. Graduate version includes additional research. Enrollment limited to 15.
P. Roquet

CMS.868 Games and Culture
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 21W.768[J], CMS.616[J], WGS.125[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of digital games. Topics include the culture of gameplay, gaming styles, communities, spectatorship and performance, gender and race within digital gaming, and the politics and economics of production processes, including co-creation and intellectual property. Students taking graduate version complete additional readings and assignments.
T. L. Taylor

CMS.871 Media in Cultural Context
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21L.715)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Seminar uses case studies to examine specific media or media configurations and the larger social, cultural, economic, political, or technological contexts within which they operate. Organized around recurring themes in media history, as well as specific genres, movements, media, or historical moments. Previously taught topics include Gendered Genres: Horror and Maternal Melodramas; Comics, Cartoons, and Graphic Storytelling; and Exploring Children's Culture. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Approved for credit in Women's and Gender Studies when content meets the requirements for subjects in that program. Limited to 12.
Staff

CMS.875 Reading Climate Through Media
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with CMS.375)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores how climate is construed in the contemporary media in order to gain a better understanding of how views of climate change are shaped and received in the public sphere. Studies the pathways that take us from climate science to media content, from the big data of global scale to the particulars and narratives of the human experience. Surveys a variety of media forms--reports, articles, comics, videos, films, photography, poetry and fiction--that reflect on the contemporary human challenges of dealing with a changing natural environment of our own making. Emphasizes the role of media in shaping public opinion, both in the US and globally, and its influence on public (and voter) perceptions on which a vast body of regulation and funding for environmental management is based. Students work individually and in teams to produce a selection of the media forms studied. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20.
K. Tarker

CMS.876 History of Media and Technology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with CMS.376)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys the interrelated histories of communications media and technological development, from the emergence of 19th-century forms of mass print media and telegraphy, to sound capture and image-based forms (e.g., film, radio, and television), to the shift from analog to digital cultures. Examines how new forms of communication exert social, political, and cultural influences in the global context. Explores how technological innovation and accelerating media affect social values and behaviors in the popular and global adoption of a media device. Includes two papers and a research project on aspects of media history. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.877 Transmedia Art, Extraction, and Environmental Justice
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 4.376[J], CMS.374[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-3-7
______
Exploration of today's extractive economies and the role that artists, media-makers, and transmedia producers play in shaping public perception, individual choices, and movement-building towards sustainability. Traces the contingent geological, material, community, and toxic histories of extracted materials used throughout our built environment, as well as civic resistance and reform that could alter extraction practices. Scaffolded workshops with artists and media producers support students' production of creative documentary and other media projects. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.888 Advertising and Media: Comparative Perspectives
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21G.036[J], 21G.190, CMS.356[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Compares modern and contemporary advertising culture in China, the US, and other emerging markets. First half focuses on branding in the old media environment; second half introduces the changing practice of advertising in the new media environment. Topics include branding and positioning, media planning, social media campaigns, cause marketing 2.0, social TV, and mobility marketing. Required lab work includes interactive sessions in branding a team product for the US (or a European country) and China markets. Taught in English and requires no knowledge of Chinese. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Wang

CMS.894 Education Technology Studio
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with CMS.594)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Uses media and technology to develop new forms of learning experiences for schools, workplace, and informal settings. Students participate in a range of projects that hone understanding and skills in learning science, instructional design, development, and evaluation. Topics vary but include developing new media and activities for massive open online courses, creating practice spaces for practitioners in the professions and humanities, and developing new approaches to assessment in complex learning environments. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if project content differs. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Reich

CMS.895 Learning, Media, and Technology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with CMS.595)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1.30-3 (E15-335)
______
Addresses new digital technologies that are transforming learning across the lifespan - from reading apps for toddlers, intelligent tutors for school children, and blended learning for college students, to MOOCs for adults and interest-based learning communities for hobbyists. Focuses on how these technologies shape people's lives and learning. Students explore how education technologies operate in complex social-technical systems, and acquire analytic tools and strategies that can be applied to other complex systems. They also refine their thinking about the opportunities, limits, and tradeoffs of educational technology. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
GR Marvez
No textbook information available

CMS.901 Current Debates in Media
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with CMS.701)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW3-4.30 (4-251)
______
Addresses important, current debates in media with in-depth discussion of popular perceptions and policy implications. Students use multiple perspectives to analyze texts emanating from these debates, and present their findings through discussions and reports. Explores emerging topics (e.g., piracy and IP regimes, net neutrality, media effects, social media and social change, and changing literacies) across media forms and from various historical, transcultural, and methodological perspectives. Examines the framing of these issues, their ethical and policy implications, and strategies for repositioning the debate. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Fall: I. Condry
Spring: A. Gibson
No textbook information available

CMS.915 Understanding Television
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21L.432[J], CMS.315[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
A cultural approach to television's evolution as a technology and system of representation. Considers television as a system of storytelling and mythmaking, and as a cultural practice studied from anthropological, literary, and cinematic perspectives. Focuses on prime-time commercial broadcasting, the medium's technological and economic history, and theoretical perspectives. Considerable television viewing and readings in media theory and cultural interpretation are required. Previously taught topics include American Television: A Cultural History. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Heather Hendershot

CMS.920 Popular Culture and Narrative
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21L.430)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (56-167)
______
Examines relationships between popular culture and art, focusing on problems of evaluation and audience, and the uses of different media within a broader social context. Typically treats a range of narrative and dramatic works as well as films. Previously taught topics include Elements of Style; Gender, Sexuality and Popular Narrative. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Approved for credit in Women's and Gender Studies when content meets the requirements for subjects in that program. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
C. Doyle
No textbook information available

CMS.925 Film Music
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21M.284)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a conceptual foundation and methodology for the study of music created for various types of (mainly) narrative films, from the medium's origins in the early twentieth century to the present. Close attention to select influential scores by composers active in Hollywood from the 1940s to the 1990s (e.g., Max Steiner, Bernard Herrmann, Quincy Jones, John Williams, Philip Glass). Those works are juxtaposed with landmarks of alternative film and musical styles from other countries and centers of production. Subsidiary topics include the history and challenges of live musical accompaniment to silent films, and the evolution of recording and sound-editing technologies from the studio era to the global present. Students taking the graduate version complete different assignments. Some background in the study of film and/or music is desirable, but not a prerequisite.
Staff

CMS.941 Immersive Social Worlds
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with CMS.341)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on critical media sociology of immersive social worlds, from digital environments and avatar-based worlds to live action role-play (LARP) and theme parks. Draws on both historical and contemporary cases. Investigates key issues including communication and community; authorship and co-creativity; embodiment and identity; and ownership, governance, and management. Attention given to cultural and socio-technical nature of these environments and their ongoing construction within a broader media system. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

CMS.942[J] Designing Virtual Worlds
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.178[J])
(Subject meets with 2.177[J], CMS.342[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-2-6 [P/D/F]
______
Three primary areas of focus are: creating new Virtual Reality experiences; mapping the state of emerging tools; and hosting guests - leaders in the VR/XR community, who serve as coaches for projects. Students have significant leeway to customize their own learning environment. As the field is rapidly evolving, each semester focuses on a new aspect of virtual worlds, based on the current state of innovations. Students work in teams of interdisciplinary peers from Berklee College of Music and Harvard University. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
K. Zolot

CMS.950 Workshop I
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-2-6
______
Provides an opportunity for direct project development experience and emphasizes intellectual growth as well as the acquisition of technical skills. Students attend regular meetings to present and critique their work and discuss its implications.
Staff

CMS.990 Colloquium in Comparative Media
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Exposes students to the perspectives of scholars, activists, mediamakers, policymakers, and industry leaders on cutting edge issues in media. Registered CMS graduate students only.
Staff

CMS.992 Portfolio in Comparative Media
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: CMS.950 or permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Students work individually with an advisor to produce a portfolio project which combines technical skills and a substantial intellectual component.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff

CMS.993 Teaching in Comparative Media
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
For qualified graduate students interested in teaching. Offers experience in classroom and/or tutorial teaching under the supervision of a Comparative Media Studies faculty member.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff

CMS.994 Independent Study
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Opportunity for individual research in comparative media studies. Registration subject to prior arrangement for subject matter and supervision by a faculty member.
Fall: D. Solomon
Spring: D. Solomon
No textbook information available

CMS.995 Independent Study
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for individual research in comparative media studies. Registration subject to prior arrangement for subject matter and supervision by a faculty member.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No textbook information available

CMS.S96 Special Subject: Rap Theory and Practice
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 21L.S60[J], CMS.S60[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W2-5 (1-150)
______
To gain a deeper understanding of rap, students engage in the full process of creating rap music, including composing lyrics, recording, performing and creating an EP length album. Existing rap music is studied, selected lyrics are analyzed and possible reasons for the structure and success of different songs are presented in case studies. Students analyze rap songs, reflect on their own weekly activities in writing and present their work in class by playing recordings, performing and responding to each other in workshop discussions. Licensed for Fall 2024 by the Committee on Graduate Programs. Limited to 10.
W. Jaco
No textbook information available

CMS.S97 Special Subject: Comparative Media Studies
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
Subject Cancelled CMS.S97 Cancelled
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
Staff

CMS.S98 Special Subject: Comparative Media Studies
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
D. Solomon
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.S99 Special Subject: Comparative Media Studies
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
D. Solomon
No required or recommended textbooks

CMS.THG Master's Thesis
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of advisor
Units arranged
______
Completion of a graduate thesis, to be arranged with a faculty member, who becomes the thesis advisor. Required of all CMS students.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff


left arrow | CMS.00-CMS.999 plus UROP and Thesis | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 21W: Writing
IAP/Spring 2025


First-Year Writing Subjects

First-year writing subjects provide a foundation for future communication-intensive subjects, and also function as a starting point for concentrating, minoring, or majoring in Writing. While the topical focus of writing assignments varies across these subjects, all first-year writing subjects develop students' understanding of genre, audience, argument, discourse, source use, and writing process. All written work goes through stages of drafting, peer review, and revision. Because these subjects are limited to 15 students per section, students receive detailed feedback at all stages of the writing process, and have many opportunities for individual conferences with instructors. Active class participation and short oral presentations are required.

Please note: Students can take no more than one subject in each category (e.g., 21W. 01x, 21W. 02x, 21W. 03x) for credit.

21W.011 Writing and Rhetoric: Rhetoric and Contemporary Issues
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.012, 21W.013, 21W.014, 21W.015, 21W.016
Lecture: TR EVE (7-8.30 PM) (8-119)
______
Provides the opportunity for students - as readers, viewers, writers, and speakers - to engage with social and ethical issues they care deeply about. Explores perspectives on a range of social issues, such as the responsibilities of citizens, freedom of expression, poverty and homelessness, mental illness, the challenges of an aging society, the politics of food, and racial and gender inequality. Discusses rhetorical strategies that aim to increase awareness of social problems; to educate the public about different perspectives on contemporary issues; and to persuade readers of the value of particular positions on, or solutions to, social problems. Students analyze selected texts and photographs, as well as documentary and feature films, that represent or dramatize social problems or issues. Students also write essays about social and ethical issues of their own choice. Limited to 15.
Fall: A. Walsh
Spring: A. Walsh
No textbook information available

21W.012 Writing and Rhetoric: Food for Thought
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.011, 21W.013, 21W.014, 21W.015, 21W.016
______
Explores many of the issues that surround food as both material fact and personal and cultural symbol. Includes non-fiction works on topics such as family meals, food's ability to awaken us to "our own powers of enjoyment" (M.F.K. Fisher), and eating as an "agricultural act" (W. Berry). Students read Michael Pollan's best-selling book In Defense of Food and discuss the issues it raises about America's food supply and eating habits, as well as the rhetorical strategies it employs. Assignments include narratives, analytical essays, and research-based essays. Limited to 15.
L. Roldan

21W.013 Writing and Rhetoric: Introduction to Contemporary Rhetoric
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.011, 21W.012, 21W.014, 21W.015, 21W.016
______
Considers how rhetoric shapes current events in politics, science, and society. Students study rhetoric as a theoretical framework for developing persuasive arguments, as a method of analyzing written, oral, and visual texts, and as a mode of human inquiry. Assignments include analytical, persuasive, and research-based essays, as well as oral presentations, group discussions, and debates. Readings drawn from political speeches, scientific arguments, and popular media. Limited to 15.
L. Harrison-Lepera

21W.014 Writing and Rhetoric: Exploring Visual Media
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.011, 21W.012, 21W.013, 21W.015, 21W.016
______
Explores the rhetoric of visual media and the meaning of the digital revolution. Students analyze readings and films and discuss the power of media in defining social issues and shaping ideas of self, family, and community. They also write essays that sharpen skills in analyzing visual rhetoric, developing and supporting arguments, and using sources. Limited to 18.
Staff

21W.015 Writing and Rhetoric: Writing about Sports
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.011, 21W.012, 21W.013, 21W.014, 21W.016
Lecture: TR12-1.30 (E17-136)
______
Examines the role of sports in our individual lives and American culture at large. Considers a broad range of issues, such as heroism and ethical conundrums, gender equality, steroids, and the proper role of sports in college life. Examples of high-quality, descriptive and analytic sports writing serve as the focus for class discussion and as models for student essays. Limited to 15.
A. Karatsolis
No textbook information available

21W.016 Writing and Rhetoric: Making Change
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.011, 21W.012, 21W.013, 21W.014, 21W.015
______
Explores how we use rhetoric in text, visuals, and other modes to make meaning. Uses analysis, composition, and debate about rhetorical strategies to develop theoretical and empirical knowledge of how design choices shape our texts and our understanding of the world. Limited to 15.
J. Stickgold-Sarah

21W.021 Writing and Experience: MIT Inside, Live
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.022
______
Acting as participant-observers, students investigate MIT's history and culture through visits to the Institute's archives and museums, relevant readings, and depictions of MIT in popular culture. Students chronicle their experiences and insights through a variety of writing projects, culminating in the completion of a portfolio. Limited to 15.
J. Graziano

21W.022 Writing and Experience: Reading and Writing Autobiography
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.021
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (E17-136) or TR3-4.30 (8-119)
______
Draws on a range of autobiographical writing as examples for students to analyze. Students write essays that focus on their own experience, exploring topics such as intellectual growth and development, the childhood and high school years, life at MIT, the influence of place upon one's personality and character, and the role politics and religion play in one's life. Emphasizes clarity, specificity, and structure; investigates various modes of writing (narrative, analytical, expository) and their suitability for different purposes. Limited to 15.
Fall: C. Beimford, L. Harrison Lepera, N. Jackson
Spring: L. Harrison Lepera, A. Walsh
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21W.031 Science Writing and New Media: Explorations in Communicating about Science and Technology
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.034, 21W.035, 21W.036
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (56-180)
______
Examines principles of good writing, focusing on those associated with scientific and technical writing. Considers the effects of new media as an avenue for communicating about science. Students discuss scientific articles and essays and work in small groups to critique each other's writing. Assignments include a critical review, a science essay for the general public, and a research or service project proposal. Students choose topics that reflect their background and interests. Formal and informal presentations and group discussions develop oral communication skills. Limited to 15.
Fall: M. Trice, J. Melvold
Spring: J. Melvold
No textbook information available

21W.034 Science Writing and New Media: Perspectives on Medicine and Public Health
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.031, 21W.035, 21W.036
______
Public health topics, such as AIDS, asthma, malaria control, obesity, and sleep deprivation, provide a unifying focus as students explore diverse modes of science writing. Readings include essays by such writers as Atul Gawande, Danielle Ofri, Jerome Groopman, and William Carlos Williams, as well as peer-reviewed journal articles. Assignments include a critical review, a scientific literature review, a brochure suitable for general distribution, an autobiographical narrative, a resume, a job application letter, and oral presentations. Limited to 18.
Staff

21W.035 Science Writing and New Media: Elements of Science Writing for the Public
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.031, 21W.034, 21W.036
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (56-180)
______
Introduces ways of communicating scientific information meaningfully to public audiences, and teaches features that distinguish science writing for the public from scientific writing aimed at experts. Discussions analyze various forms of popular science communication to identify rhetorical strategies that engage and educate readers of varying backgrounds and identities. Students write about topics they are genuinely interested in related to science, medicine, technology, and/or engineering. Assignments incorporate primary and secondary background research, drafting, presentations, peer review, and revision. Limited to 15.
Fall: R. Thorndike-Breeze, E. Kallestinova
Spring: A. Carleton, E. Kallestinova
No required or recommended textbooks

21W.036 Science Writing and New Media: Writing and the Environment
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.031, 21W.034, 21W.035
______
Develops written and oral communication skills through the study and practice of environmental science writing. Covers a wide range of genres, including such standard forms as the scientific literature review. Students adapt the content of their papers and oral presentations to the distinctive needs of specific audiences. Assignments provide thematic coherence and a basis for independent student research. Limited to 15.
Staff

21W.041[J] Writing About Literature
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
(Same subject as 21L.000[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-000j-writing-about-literature/
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (4-251)
______
Intensive focus on the reading and writing skills used to analyze literary texts such as poems by Emily Dickinson, Shakespeare or Langston Hughes; short stories by Chekhov, Joyce, or Alice Walker; and a short novel by Melville or Toni Morrison. Designed not only to prepare students for further work in writing and literary and media study, but also to provide increased confidence and pleasure in their reading, writing, and analytical skills. Students write or revise essays weekly. Enrollment limited.
Fall: C. Doyle
Spring: N. Jackson
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21W.042[J] Writing with Shakespeare
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
(Same subject as 21L.010[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on writing and speaking using Shakespeare as a model and means for mastery of English language skills. Emphasizes the development of students' ability to write clearly and effectively in a range of genres with an awareness of audience. Designed to increase students' confidence and pleasure in verbal communication and analysis of language. Students write frequently, give and receive feedback, improve their work through revision, and participate actively in class discussions and presentations. Enrollment limited.
D. Henderson

21W.051 Emotional Intelligence and Team Communication
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the role of emotional intelligence in both our individual lives and our collaborations. Considers a broad range of topics and communication strategies, including self-awareness, listening, trust, habit formation, conflict, negotiation, and constructive dialogue. High-quality writing and video presentations serve as the focus for the class discussion and as models for student essays and presentations. Students produce both individual and collaborative work. Limited to 15.
J. Abbott

English Language Studies (ELS)

21W.217 Workshop in Strategies for Effective Teaching (ELS)
______

Graduate (IAP); partial term
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.218
______
A mini-module for international teaching assistants. Covers special problems in teaching when English is a second language and the US a second culture. Videotaping of practice sessions for feedback. Individualized programs to meet different needs. Graduate TAs have priority. Limited to 18.
A. C. Kemp
No textbook information available

21W.218 Workshop in Strategies for Effective Teaching (ELS)
______

Undergrad (IAP); partial term
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.217
______
A mini-module for international teaching assistants. Covers special problems in teaching when English is a second language and the US a second culture. Videotaping of practice sessions for feedback. Individualized programs to meet different needs. Limited to 18.
A. C. Kemp
No textbook information available

21W.219 Foundations of Academic and Professional Writing (ELS)
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.220
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (14N-325) or TR EVE (5-6.30 PM) (1-277)
______
Writing module for high-intermediate ELS students who wish to review and practice accurate grammar, effective sentence and paragraph structure, punctuation, and word choice. Short weekly writing assignments with extensive editing required. Meets with 21W.220 when offered concurrently. Limited to 18.
Fall: I. Makysmjuk; O.Szabo
Spring: O. Szabo
No required or recommended textbooks

21W.220 Foundations of Academic and Professional Writing (ELS)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.219
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (14N-325)
______
Writing module for high intermediate ELS students who wish to review and practice accurate grammar, effective sentence and paragraph structure, punctuation, and word choice. Short weekly writing assignments with extensive editing required. Meets with 21W.219 when offered concurrently. Limited to 18.
Fall: O. Szabo
Spring: O. Szabo
No required or recommended textbooks

21W.221 Communicating in American Culture (ELS)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Designed for international students who wish to refine their academic communication skills through the study of mainstream American culture. Using a variety of materials in different media, students explore how the country's history, geography, institutions, traditions and values have shaped contemporary communication styles and responses to critical events in the world. Students examine and practice principles of effective communication in genres common to the humanities and social sciences. Explores how discourse practices vary within and across cultures. Assignments include an educational memoir, project proposal, annotated bibliography, research-based cultural analysis of a current event of choice, and presentation. Limited to 18.
E. Grunwald

21W.222 Expository Writing for Bilingual Students
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (1-277)
______
Formulating, organizing, and presenting ideas clearly in writing. Reviews basic principles of rhetoric. Focuses on development of a topic, thesis, choice of appropriate vocabulary, and sentence structure to achieve purpose. Develops idiomatic prose style. Gives attention to grammar and vocabulary usage. Special focus on strengthening skills of bilingual students. Intended to be taken during the student's first year at MIT. Priority given to students recommended for 21W.222 based on summer FEE results. Limited to 15; undergraduates only.
Fall: AC Kemp, AC Kemp, E. Grunwald
Spring: O. Szabo
No required or recommended textbooks

21W.223 Listening, Speaking, and Pronunciation (ELS)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.224
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (1-135)
______
Designed for high intermediate ELS students who need to develop better listening comprehension and oral skills. Involves short speaking and listening assignments with extensive exercises in accurate comprehension, pronunciation, stress and intonation, and expression of ideas. Includes frequent video- and audio-recording for analysis and feedback. Meets with 21W.224 when offered concurrently. Limited to 18 per section.
Fall: O. Szabo
Spring: AC Kemp
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21W.224 Listening, Speaking, and Pronunciation (ELS)
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.223
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (1-135)
______
Designed for high-intermediate ELS students who need to develop better listening comprehension and oral skills. Involves short speaking and listening assignments with extensive exercises in accurate comprehension, pronunciation, stress and intonation, and expression of ideas. Includes frequent video- and audio-recording for analysis and feedback. Meets with 21W.223 when offered concurrently. Limited to 18 per section.
Fall: AC Kemp, AC Kemp
Spring: AC Kemp
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21W.225 Advanced Workshop in Writing for Science and Engineering (ELS)
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.226
Lecture: TR12-1.30 (1-277)
______
Analysis and practice of various forms of scientific and technical writing, from memos to journal articles. Strategies for conveying technical information to specialist and non-specialist audiences. The goal of the workshop is to develop effective writing skills for academic and professional contexts. Models, materials, topics, and assignments vary from term to term. Meets with 21W.226 when offered concurrently. Limited to 18 per section.
Fall: E. Grunwald
Spring: E. Grunwald
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21W.226 Advanced Workshop in Writing for Science and Engineering (ELS)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.225
Lecture: TR12-1.30 (1-277)
______
Analysis and practice of various forms of scientific and technical writing, from memos to journal articles. Strategies for conveying technical information to specialist and non-specialist audiences. The goal of the workshop is to develop effective writing skills for academic and professional contexts. Models, materials, topics, and assignments vary from term to term. Meets with 21W.225 when offered concurrently. Limited to 18 per section.
Fall: E. Grunwald
Spring: E. Grunwald
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21W.227 Advanced Workshop in Writing for Social Sciences and Architecture (ELS)
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.228
Lecture: MW12.30-2 (14N-112)
______
Focuses on techniques, format, and prose used in academic and professional life. Emphasis on writing required in fields such as economics, political science, and architecture. Short assignments include business letters, memos, and proposals that lead toward a written term project. Methods designed to accommodate those whose first language is not English. Develops effective writing skills for academic and professional contexts. Models, materials, topics, and assignments vary from term to term. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Limited to 18 per section.
I. Maksymjuk
No textbook information available

21W.228 Advanced Workshop in Writing for Social Sciences and Architecture (ELS)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.227
Lecture: MW12.30-2 (14N-112)
______
Focuses on techniques, format, and prose used in academic and professional life. Emphasis on writing required in fields such as economics, political science, and architecture. Short assignments include business letters, memos, and proposals that lead toward a written term project. Methods designed to accommodate those whose first language is not English. Develops effective writing skills for academic and professional contexts. Models, materials, topics and assignments vary from term to term. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Limited to 18.
I. Maksymujk
No textbook information available

21W.232 Advanced Speaking and Critical Listening Skills (ELS)
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.233
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (66-168)
______
For advanced students who wish to build confidence and skills in spoken English. Focuses on the appropriate oral presentation of material in a variety of professional contexts: group discussions, classroom explanations and interactions, and theses/research proposals. Valuable for those who intend to teach or lecture in English. Includes frequent video- and audio-recording for analysis and feedback. Develops effective speaking and listening skills for academic and professional contexts. Models, materials, topics and assignments vary from term to term. May be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor. Meets with 21W.233 when offered concurrently. Limited to 15 per section.
Fall: A. C. Kemp
Spring: A. C. Kemp
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21W.233 Advanced Speaking and Critical Listening Skills (ELS)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
Credit cannot also be received for 21W.232
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (66-168)
______
For advanced students who wish to build confidence and skills in spoken English. Focuses on the appropriate oral presentation of material in a variety of professional contexts: group discussions, classroom explanations and interactions, and theses/research proposals. Valuable for those who intend to teach or lecture in English. Includes frequent video- and audio-recording for analysis and feedback. Develops effective speaking and listening skills for academic and professional contexts. Models, materials, topics and assignments vary from term to term. May be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor. Meets with 21W.232 when offered concurrently.  Limited to 15 per section.
A. C. Kemp
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21W.237 MIT Out Loud: Public Speaking for Bilingual Students
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW3.30-5 (14E-310)
______
Develops oral communication skills for bilingual students through the lens of the MIT experience. Speaking assignments in informative and persuasive speech forms draw on examples of popular culture and MIT touchstones, such as "alternative" campus tours, interviews, MIT 100K pitches, and TED talks. Explores the role of voice and body language through improvisation and impromptus. Focuses on spoken accuracy and vocabulary through oral exercises designed for bilingual students. Frequent video-recording will be used for self-evaluation. Limited to 15.
A. C. Kemp
No required or recommended textbooks

21W.238 Professional Communication in the Digital Realm: Social Media and Artificial Intelligence for Bilingual Students (ELS)
(New)
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 21W.239)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (66-156)
______
Explores the opportunities and risks of social media and generative AI, especially for those communicating in a second language. Provides opportunities for advanced bilingual students to build confidence and skills in using social media in English-speaking contexts and in using generative AI effectively and ethically. Assignments include written analyses of social media across disciplines and cultures, tests of chatbots' abilities and limitations, comparisons of their output with students' own writing, and short in-class presentations. Culminates in the creation of a long-term social media plan for students' careers. No listeners. Limited to 15 total for versions meeting together.
E. Grunwald
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21W.239 Professional Communication in the Digital Realm: Social Media and Artificial Intelligence for Bilingual Students (ELS)
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 21W.238)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (66-156)
______
Explores the opportunities and risks of social media and generative AI, especially for those communicating in a second language. Provides opportunities for advanced bilingual students to build confidence and skills in using social media in English-speaking contexts and in using generative AI effectively and ethically. Assignments include written analyses of social media across disciplines and cultures, tests of chatbots' abilities and limitations, comparisons of their output with students' own writing, and short in-class presentations. Culminates in the creation of a long-term social media plan for students' careers. No listeners. Limited to 15 total for versions meeting together.
E. Grunwald
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21W.240 Imagining English: Creative Writing for Bilingual Students (ELS)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: 21W.222 or other CI-H/CI-HW subject
Units: 3-0-9
______
Guides advanced ESOL and bilingual students in writing short stories and poems in English. Students read fiction and poetry by American, British, and non-native writers, using them as inspiration for their own work. Explores "the limits of English" through discussions of student writing to polish advanced grammar and appreciate the freshness that non-native writers bring to the language. Also includes building both academic and non-academic vocabulary, translating short works from students' native languages, and workshopping creative work. Limited to 15; undergraduates only.
E. Grunwald

Undergraduate Subjects

21W.725[J] Gender, Myth, and Magic
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as WGS.255[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores ways contemporary writers re-imagine myth and fairy tales through lens of gender and sexuality. Examines how old stories can be retold to resonate with issues of power, violence, courage, resistance, identity, community, silence, and voice. Students complete writing project where they re-imagine a myth or fairy tale.
K. Ragusa

21W.729[J] Engineering Communication in Context
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Elective Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as ES.729[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-1-8
______
Introduces writing, graphics, meetings, reading, oral presentation, collaboration, and design as tools for product development. Students work in teams to conceive, design, prototype, and evaluate energy-related mechanical engineering products. Instruction focuses on communication tasks that are integral to the design process, including design notebooks, email, informal and formal presentations, meeting etiquette, literature searches, white papers, proposals, and reports. Other assignments address the cultural situation of engineers and engineering in the world at large. Limited to 18; preference to ESG students.
Staff

21W.733[J] Debating About Society and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 10.07[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Presents basic principles of argumentation and persuasive communication, and introduces students to thought-provoking, persuasive texts about science and engineering. Analysis of texts and practices together with case studies form the basis for students' weekly assignments. Students debate such topics as the future of biotechnology, genetic engineering, AI, climate change, social bias, and the connection between engineering and society. Includes oral presentations. Limited to 18.
B. L. Trout, K. Hansen, E. Schiappa

21W.735 Writing and Reading the Essay
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: Writing sample and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR12-1.30 (14N-112)
______
Exploration of formal and informal modes of writing nonfiction prose. Extensive practice in composition, revision, and editing. Reading in the literature of the essay from the Renaissance to the present, with an emphasis on modern writers. Classes alternate between discussion of published readings and workshops on student work. Individual conferences. Limited to 18.
Fall: K. Ragusa
Spring: B. Williams
No textbook information available

21W.738[J] Intersectional Feminist Memoir
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21L.438[J], WGS.238[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (4-146)
______
Explores the memoir genre through a feminist intersectional lens, looking at the ways in which feminist writers ground personal experience within a complex understanding of race, gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity, immigration status/nationality, and dis/ablity. Gives particular attention to the relationships between the personal and the political; form and content; fact, truth, and imagination; self and community; trauma and healing; coming to voice and breaking silence. Readings include books by Audre Lorde, Janet Mock, Daisy Hernandez, Jessica Valenti, and Ariel Gore, and shorter pieces by Meena Alexander and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha. Drawing on lessons taken from these works, students write a short memoir of their own.
Fall: Brianna Williams
Spring: Brianna Williams
No textbook information available

21W.740 Writing Autobiography and Biography
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Writing an autobiography is a vehicle for improving one's style while studying the nuances of the language. Literary works are read with an emphasis on different forms of autobiography. Students examine various stages of life, significant transitions, personal struggles, and memories translated into narrative prose, and discuss: what it means for autobiographer and biographer to develop a personal voice; and the problems of reality and fiction in autobiography and biography.
K. Manning

21W.741[J] Black Matters: Introduction to Black Studies
______

Undergrad (Spring) Arts + Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 24.912[J], 21H.106[J], 21L.008[J], CMS.150[J], WGS.190[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T2-5 (E15-335)
______
Interdisciplinary survey of people of African descent that draws on the overlapping approaches of history, literature, anthropology, legal studies, media studies, performance, linguistics, and creative writing. Connects the experiences of African-Americans and of other American minorities, focusing on social, political, and cultural histories, and on linguistic patterns. Includes lectures, discussions, workshops, and required field trips that involve minimal cost to students.
M. DeGraff, D. Fox Harrell, D. Wood
No textbook information available

21W.742[J] Writing about Race
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as WGS.231[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
The issue of race and racial identity have preoccupied many writers throughout the history of the US. Students read Jessica Abel, Diana Abu-Jaber, Lynda Barry, Felicia Luna Lemus, James McBride, Sigrid Nunez, Ruth Ozeki, Danzy Senna, Gloria Anzaldua, Judith Ortiz Cofer, Carmit Delman, Stefanie Dunning, Cherrie Moraga, Hiram Perez and others, and consider the story of race in its peculiarly American dimensions. The reading, along with the writing of members of the class, is the focus of class discussions. Oral presentations on subjects of individual interest are also part of the class activities. Students explore race and ethnicity in personal essays, pieces of cultural criticism or analysis, or (with permission of instructor) fiction. All written work is read and responded to in class workshops and subsequently revised. Enrollment limited.
B. Williams

21W.743 Voice and Meaning: Speaking to Readers through Memoir
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Elective
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the memoir genre with particular attention to the relationships between form and content, fact and truth, self and community, art and "healing," coming to voice and breaking silence. Readings include works by Nick Flynn, Meena Alexander, Art Spigelman, James McBride, Ruth Ozeki, and Cheryl Strayed, with a focus on the ways in which these writers make meaning out of specific events or moments in their own lives as a way of engaging with larger questions of family, race, history, loss, and survivorship. Drawing on lessons taken from these works, students write a short memoir of their own. Limited to 18.
B. Williams

21W.744 The Art of Comic Book Writing
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Students create short scripts and full-length comic book narratives across a variety of genres, while analyzing a wide range of comics (corporate and independent, print and web). Focuses on scripts; drawing skills not required, but illustrations or storyboards are welcome. Special attention to questions of gender, race, ethnicity, and sexuality in both critical and creative work. Limited to 13.
J. Wiser

21W.745 Advanced Essay Workshop
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW3-4.30 (56-191)
______
For students with experience in writing essays and nonfiction prose. Focuses on negotiating and representing identities grounded in gender, race, class, nationality, and sexuality in prose that is expository, exploratory, investigative, persuasive, lyrical, or incantatory. Authors include James Baldwin, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Audre Lorde, Richard Rodriguez, Alice Walker, John Edgar Wideman, Diana Hume George, bell hooks, Margaret Atwood, Patricia J. Williams, and others. Designed to help students build upon their strengths as writers and to expand their repertoire of styles and approaches in essay writing. Approved for credit in Women's and Gender Studies when content meets the requirements for subjects in that program. Limited to 18.
A. Walsh
No textbook information available

21W.747 Rhetoric
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (E17-136) or TR2-3.30 (E17-136)
______
For students with a special interest in learning how to make forceful arguments in oral and written form. Studies the forms and structures of argumentation, including organization of ideas, awareness of audience, methods of persuasion, evidence, factual vs. emotional argument, figures of speech, and historical forms and uses of arguments. Limited to 18 per section.
Fall: A. Karatsolis
Spring: M. Maune, J. Stickgold-Sarah
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21W.748 Apocalyptic Storytelling
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with CMS.848)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on the critical making of apocalyptic, post-apocalyptic and dystopian stories across various narrative media. Considers the long history of Western apocalypticism as well as the uses and abuses of apocalypticism across time. Examines a wide variety of influential texts in order to enhance students' creative and theoretical repertoires. Students create their own apocalyptic stories and present on selected texts. Investigates conventions such as plague, zombies, nuclear destruction, robot uprising, alien invasion, environmental collapse, and supernatural calamities. Considers questions of race, gender, sexuality, colonialism, trauma, memory, witness, and genocide. Intended for students with prior creative writing experience. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 15.
J. Diaz


left arrow | 21W.000-21W.749 | 21W.750-21W.999 plus Thesis, UROP | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 21G: Global Languages
IAP/Spring 2025


First Year Discovery

21G.013 Discovering Multilingual Boston: Voices of Immigrant Communities
______

Undergrad (Fall); partial term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
This discovery subject will expose first-year students to the 21G curriculum through exposure to the importance of global languages in our local community. Introduces Boston's multilingual richness and vibrant immigrant communities through an exploration of the city's diverse cultures and neighborhoods. Readings and films provide an overview of Boston's recent immigrant profile, document key issues within immigrant communities, and provide testimonies of lived experience. Field trips and guest speakers allow students to learn from organizations working with immigrants in Boston neighborhoods. Students have the option to produce a blog to document their findings and report on an immigrant community, struggle, or testimony. Class meets every other week over the course of the term. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Limited to 16; preference for first-year students.
Staff

21G.014 Introduction to Russian Politics and Society
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall); partial term
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Introduces students to contemporary Russia through analysis of major political, social, and cultural trends and addresses how they have developed due to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Considers the role of identity, state propaganda, civil society — including those in exile — and music both as an instrument of political power and popular resistance. Study materials include academic and media articles, recent documentaries, and video interviews with prominent figures in Russian science and culture. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students. Limited to 15.
E. Zabrovski

21G.015 Introduction to Buddhism, Mindfulness, and Meditation
______

Undergrad (Fall); second half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
______
Companion to the Fitness and Meditation class offered through MIT's Wellness program. Introduces students to the basic ideas of Buddhism, the history of Buddhism's transmission through East Asia, and core aspects of the philosophy of Humanistic Buddhism, including the role of meditation and mindfulness in Buddhist practice. Meets with the MIT Wellness Fitness and Meditation class; students must enroll in both to receive credit. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Limited to 18.
E. Teng

Studies in International Literatures and Cultures

Studies in International Literatures and Cultures make various modes of intercultural discourse available in English. Those subjects that deal with works from more than one nation give students the opportunity to pursue comparative studies. A significant number of subjects also allow students to study works from a single country.

21G.011 Topics in Indian Popular Culture
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Overview of Indian popular culture over the last two decades, through a variety of material such as popular fiction, music, television and Bombay cinema. Explores major themes and their representations in relation to current social and political issues, elements of the formulaic masala movie, music and melodrama, ideas of nostalgia and incumbent change in youth culture, and questions of gender and sexuality in popular fiction. Taught in English. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21G.022[J] International Women's Voices
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21L.522[J], WGS.141[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-048j-international-womens-voices/
______
Introduces students to a variety of fictional works by contemporary women writers. International perspective emphasizes the extent to which each author's work reflects her distinct cultural heritage and to what extent, if any, there is an identifiable female voice that transcends national boundaries. Uses a variety of interpretive perspectives, including sociohistorical, psychoanalytic, and feminist criticism, to examine texts. Authors include Mariama Ba, Isabel Allende, Anita Desai, Maxine Hong Kingston, Toni Morrison, Doris Lessing, Alifa Riyaat, Yang Jiang, Nawal Al-Saadawi, and Sawako Ariyoshi. Taught in English.
Staff

21G.024[J] The Linguistic Study of Bilingualism
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 24.906[J])
Prereq: 24.900 or 24.9000
Units: 3-0-9
______
Development of bilingualism in human history (from Australopithecus to present day). Focuses on linguistic aspects of bilingualism; models of bilingualism and language acquisition; competence versus performance; effects of bilingualism on other domains of human cognition; brain imaging studies; early versus late bilingualism; opportunities to observe and conduct original research; and implications for educational policies among others. Students participate in six online web meetings with partner institutions. Taught in English. Enrollment limited.
S. Flynn

21G.025[J] Africa and the Politics of Knowledge
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.135[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Considers how, despite its immense diversity, Africa continues to hold purchase as both a geographical entity and meaningful knowledge category. Examines the relationship between articulations of "Africa" and projects like European imperialism, developments in the biological sciences, African de-colonization and state-building, and the imagining of the planet's future. Readings in anthropology and history are organized around five themes: space and place, race, representation, self-determination, and time. Enrollment limited.
D. Asfaha

21G.026[J] Global Africa: Creative Cultures
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21A.136[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.326)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines contemporary and historical cultural production on and from Africa across a range of registers, including literary, musical and visual arts, material culture, and science and technology. Employs key theoretical concepts from anthropology and social theory to analyze these forms and phenomena. Uses case studies to consider how Africa articulates its place in, and relationship to, the world through creative practices. Discussion topics largely drawn from Francophone and sub-Saharan Africa, but also from throughout the continent and the African diaspora. Taught in English. Limited to 18.
A. Edoh

21G.028[J] African Migrations
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21A.137[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.328)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines West African migration to France and to the United States from the early 20th century to the present. Centering the experiences of African social actors and historicizing recent dynamics, students consider what migration across these three regions reveals about African projects of self-determination, postcolonial nation-building, and global citizenship. Students also comparatively analyze the workings of contemporary French and American societies, in particular, the articulations of race and citizenship in the two nations. Taught in English. Limited to 18.
A. Edoh

21G.029[J] City Living: Ethnographies of Urban Worlds
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.402[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.419)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the ways in which anthropologists have studied cities. Addressing the question of what constitutes the boundaries of life in the city, students familiarize themselves with key themes - such as the relation between city and countryside, space and place, urban economies, science, globalization, migration, nature/culture, kinship, and race, gender, class and memory - that have guided anthropological analyses of cities across the world. Via engagement with case studies and their own small fieldwork projects, students gain experience with different ethnographic strategies for documenting urban life. Taught in English. Limited to 25 across 21A.402 and 21G.419.
B. Stoetzer

21G.030[J] Introduction to East Asian Cultures: From Zen to K-Pop
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as WGS.236[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.193)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (14E-310)
______
Examines traditional forms of East Asian culture (including literature, art, performance, food, and religion) as well as contemporary forms of popular culture (film, pop music, karaoke, and manga). Covers China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, with an emphasis on China. Considers women's culture, as well as the influence and presence of Asian cultural expressions in the US. Uses resources in the Boston area, including the MFA, the Children's Museum, and the Sackler collection at Harvard. Taught in English.
E. Teng
No required or recommended textbooks

21G.036[J] Advertising and Media: Comparative Perspectives
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as CMS.356[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.190, CMS.888)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Compares modern and contemporary advertising culture in China, the US, and other emerging markets. First half focuses on branding in the old media environment; second half introduces the changing practice of advertising in the new media environment. Topics include branding and positioning, media planning, social media campaigns, cause marketing 2.0, social TV, and mobility marketing. Required lab work includes interactive sessions in branding a team product for the US (or a European country) and China markets. Taught in English and requires no knowledge of Chinese. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

21G.038 China in the News: The Untold Stories
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21G.194)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines issues and debates crucial to understanding contemporary Chinese society, culture, and politics. Discusses how cultural politics frames the way in which China is viewed by mass media around the world and by China scholars in the West. Topics include the Beijing Olympic Games; Mao in post-Mao China; the new patriotism; leisure and consumer culture; the rise of the internet and web culture in urban China; media censorship, remix, and creative online culture. Analyzes the central debate over progress and the role played by the state, the market, and citizen activists in engineering social change. Uses documentaries and feature films to illustrate the cultural, social and political changes that have taken place in China since the 1980s. Includes two short writing assignments and a final paper. Taught in English.
Staff

21G.039[J] Gender and Japanese Popular Culture
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21A.143[J], WGS.154[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.591)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines relationships between identity and participation in Japanese popular culture as a way of understanding the changing character of media, capitalism, fan communities, and culture. Emphasizes contemporary popular culture and theories of gender, sexuality, race, and the workings of power and value in global culture industries. Topics include manga (comic books), hip-hop and other popular music, anime and feature films, video games, contemporary literature, and online communication. Students present analyses and develop a final project based on a particular aspect of gender and popular culture. Several films screened outside of regular class meeting times. Taught in English.
I. Condry

21G.040 A Passage to India: Introduction to Modern Indian Culture and Society
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W EVE (7-10 PM) (16-668)
______
Introduction to Indian culture through films, short-stories, novels, essays, newspaper articles. Examines some major social and political controversies of contemporary India through discussions centered on India's history, politics and religion. Focuses on issues such as ethnic tension and terrorism, poverty and inequality, caste conflict, the missing women, and the effects of globalization on popular and folk cultures. Particular emphasis on the IT revolution, outsourcing, the new global India and the enormous regional and subcultural differences. Taught in English.
A. Banerjee
No textbook information available

21G.041[J] Foundations of East Asian Literature and Culture: From Confucius to the Beats
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21L.040[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies foundational works from East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam) with a focus on their cultural context and contemporary relevance and asks how "Literature" looks different when conceived through some of the world's oldest literatures beyond the West. Explores philosophical texts, history writing, poetry, stories and diaries, tales, and novels. Hones skills of reading, writing, and speaking with a sense of cultural sensitivity, historical depth, and comparative contemplation. Students who have taken this topic under 21L.007 cannot also receive credit for 21L.040.
W. Denecke

21G.042[J] Three Kingdoms: From History to Fiction, Comic, Film, and Game
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.352[J], 21L.492[J], CMS.359[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.133)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (14E-310)
______
Analyzing core chapters of the great Chinese epic novel, Three Kingdoms, and its adaptations across diverse media, considers what underlies the appeal of this classic narrative over the centuries. Through focus on historical events in the period 206 BC to AD 280, examines the representation of power, diplomacy, war, and strategy, and explores the tension among competing models of political authority and legitimacy. Covers basic elements of classical Chinese political and philosophical thought, and literary and cultural history. Final group project involves digital humanities tools. Readings in translation. Films and video in Chinese with English subtitles.
E. Teng
No required or recommended textbooks

21G.043[J] From Yellow Peril to Model Minority: Asian American History to 1968
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.107[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an overview of Asian American history between the 1830s and 1968 and  its relevance for contemporary issues. Covers the first wave of Asian immigration in the 19th century, the rise of anti-Asian movements, the experiences of Asian Americans during WWII, the 1965 immigration reform, and the emergence of the Asian American movement in the 1960s. Examines the role these experiences played in the formation of Asian American ethnicity. Addresses key societal issues such as racial stereotyping, xenophobia, ethnicity and racial formation, citizenship, worker activism, immigrant community building, the "model minority" myth, and anti-Asian harassment and violence. Taught in English.
Consult E. Teng

21G.044[J] Classics of Chinese Literature in Translation
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21L.494[J], WGS.235[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.195)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to some of the major genres of traditional Chinese poetry, fiction, and drama. Intended to give students a basic understanding of the central features of traditional Chinese literary genres, as well as to introduce students to the classic works of the Chinese literary tradition. Works read include Journey to the West, Outlaws of the Margin, Dream of the Red Chamber, and the poetry of the major Tang dynasty poets. Literature read in translation. Taught in English.
W. Denecke

21G.045[J] Global Chinese Food: A Historical Overview
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.156[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the history of Chinese food around the world. Illustrates how the globalization of Chinese food is deeply connected to Chinese migration patterns, expansion of Western influence in Asia, Chinese entrepreneurship, and interethnic relations in places of Chinese settlement. With an overview of earlier periods in Chinese history, focuses on the 18th through 20th centuries, specifically on major events in modern world history that affected the availability and demand for Chinese food. Considers environmental issues in relation to China's changing food systems. Includes a mandatory field trip to Boston Chinatown. Taught in English. Limited to 30.
Staff

21G.046 Modern Chinese Fiction and Cinema
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21G.192)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers major works of Chinese fiction and film, from mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Focusing on the modern period, examines how Chinese intellectuals, writers, and filmmakers have used artistic works to critically explore major issues in modern Chinese culture and society. Literature read in translation. Taught in English. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21G.048[J] Images of Asian Women: Dragon Ladies and Lotus Blossoms
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.141[J], WGS.274[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores some of the forces and mechanisms through which stereotypes are built and perpetuated. In particular, examines stereotypes associated with Asian women in colonial, nationalist, state-authoritarian, and global/diasporic narratives about gender and power. Students read ethnography, fiction, and history, and view films to examine the politics and circumstances that create and perpetuate the representation of Asian women as dragon ladies, lotus blossoms, despotic tyrants, desexualized servants, and docile subordinates. Students are introduced to debates about Orientalism, gender, and power.
M. Buyandelger

21G.049[J] French Photography
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 4.674[J], 21H.145[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces students to the world of French photography from its invention in the 1820s to the present. Provides exposure to major photographers and images of the French tradition and encourages students to explore the social and cultural roles and meanings of photographs. Designed to help students navigate their own photo-saturated worlds; provides opportunity to gain practical experience in photography. Taught in English. Enrollment limited.
C. Clark

21G.050[J] Looking East/Looking West
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.247[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines how objects and images mediate encounters between people and helped define the "Orient" and the "Occident." Explores the visual and material culture as well as textual accounts produced by and consumed during encounters between European and Asian travelers, diplomats, artists, writers, and tourists since the seventeenth century. Considers the frameworks scholars have used to understand these encounters and how we might deploy those frameworks ourselves. Employs historical thinking to work on our skills of visual and cultural analysis. Questions how these legacies of material and visual exchange have shaped the community within Boston area.
C. Clark, H. Nagahara

21G.052 French Film Classics
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-2-8
______
History and aesthetics of French cinema from the advent of sound to present-day. Treats films in the context of technical processes, the art of narration, directorial style, role of the scriptwriter, the development of schools and movements, the impact of political events and ideologies, and the relation between French and other national cinemas. Films shown with English subtitles. Taught in English.
Staff

21G.053 Understanding Contemporary French Politics
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.353
______
Examines the changes in contemporary French society through the study of political debates, reforms and institutions since 1958. Analyzes the deep influence of politics on cultural and social life, despite a decline in political participation. Revisits public controversies and political cleavages, from the Algerian war to postcolonial issues, from the birth of the European Union to the recent financial crisis, and from the moral "revolution" of the seventies to the recognition of new families. Course taught in English. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21G.054[J] France and Haiti: Enlightenment, Slavery, and Revolution
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.241[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W EVE (7-10 PM) (E51-285)
______
Explores the relationship between the Enlightenment, slavery, and the French and Haitian revolutions. Studies France and Haiti prior to 1789, analyzes some of the central texts of the Enlightenment with an emphasis on ideas about monarchy, slavery, and democracy. Considers the place of these ideas and the role of popular mobilization in the French and Haitian revolutionary era from 1789 to 1804. Concludes with an examination of some of the legacies of the eighteenth-century experience for modern French and Haitian politics.
M. Ghachem
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21G.055[J] Media in Weimar and Nazi Germany
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as CMS.311[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-2-8
______
Debates over national and media identity in Weimar and Nazi Germany. Production and use of media under extreme political and social conditions with a focus on films (such as Nosferatu, Berlin, M, and Triumph des Willens) and other media. Media approached as both texts and systems. Considers the legacy of the period, in terms of stylistic influence (e.g. film noir), techniques of persuasion, and media's relationship to social and economic conditions. Taught in English. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21G.056[J] The "Making" of Modern Europe: 1789-Present
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.143[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.356)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an overview of European history from 1789 to the present. Explores how the ideas of "European" and "modern" have been defined over time. Explores major events and the evolution of major tensions and issues that consumed Europe and Europeans through the period, including questions of identity, inclusion/exclusion, religion, and equality. Places major emphasis on the fiction, visual culture, and films of the century as the products and evidence of political, social and cultural change. Taught in English.
E. Kempf

21G.057[J] Gender, Race, and Environmental Justice
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.407[J], STS.022[J], WGS.275[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to the analysis of gender in science, technology, and environmental politics from a global perspective. Familiarizes students with central objects, questions, and methods in the field. Examines existent critiques of the racial, sexual and environmental politics at stake in techno-scientific cultures. Draws on material from popular culture, media, fiction, film, and ethnography. Addressing specific examples from across the globe, students also explore different approaches to build more livable environments that promote social justice. Taught in English. Limited to 18.
B. Stoetzer

21G.058[J] Race and Migration in Europe
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21A.132[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.418)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Addresses the shifting politics of nation, ethnicity, and race in the context of migration and globalization in Germany and Europe. Provides students with analytical tools to approach global concerns and consider Europe and Germany from cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives. Familiarizes students with the ways in which histories of migration, travel, and colonial encounters shape contemporary Europe. Introduces the concepts of transnationalism, diasporic cultures, racism, ethnicity, asylum, and mobility via case studies and materials, including film, ethnography, fiction, and autobiography. Taught in English. Limited to 18.
B. Stoetzer

21G.059 Paradigms of European Thought and Culture
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Subject surveys the main currents of European cultural and intellectual history in the modern period. Introduces a set of ideas and arguments that have played a formative role in European culture, and acquaints students with exemplars of critical thought. Readings begin with the Protestant Reformation and move through the French Revolution up to the post-WWII period. Figures to be considered include Luther, Descartes, Kant, Hegel, Rousseau, Smith, Marx, Freud, Beauvoir, and Foucault. Class discussions set these texts into the context of European culture. Topics to be considered are artworks by Goya, David, and Duchamp; the architecture of Schinkel; the music of Bach; and the literature of Goethe. Taught in English.
P. Urlaub

21G.062[J] Gateway to Japanese Literature and Culture
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21L.493[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.562)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-493j-gateway-to-japanese-literature-and-culture/
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (1-135)
______
Surveys the nature, history, and distinctive features of Japanese literature and cultural history from the beginnings through the threshold of modernity. Examines various genres of poetry, historiography and mythological lore, prose tales and fiction, diaries, essays, Noh and puppet plays, short stories and novels; and helps students appreciate the texts' relevance in the historical and cultural context in which authors wrote them, in the broader context of literary traditions from around the world, and for the humanistic and aesthetic powers that make them poignant to us today. Showcases how authors increasingly enjoyed adapting, redoing, and satirizing earlier models, while constantly developing new expressive forms suited to the urgent needs of their time. Includes an eco-literature lab, a creative writing lab, and a history-writing lab for collaborative experimentation.
W. Denecke
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21G.063 Anime: Transnational Media and Culture
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Subject meets with 21G.596)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores anime (Japanese animated films and TV shows) as a study in flows among media and cultures. Discusses Japan's substantial share of the TV cartoon market and the reasons for anime's worldwide success. Focuses on cultural production and the ways anime cultures are created through the interactive efforts of studios, sponsors, fans, broadcasters, and distributors. Uses anime scholarship and media examples as a means to examine leading theories in media and cultural studies, gender and sexuality, technology and identity, and post-industrial globalization. Taught in English.
Staff

21G.064 Introduction to Japanese Culture
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21G.592)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the major aesthetic, social, and political elements which have shaped modern Japanese culture and society. Readings on contemporary Japan and historical evolution of the culture are coordinated with study of literary texts, film, and art, along with an analysis of everyday life and leisure activities. Taught in English. Limited to 18.
Staff

21G.065[J] Japanese Media Cultures
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as CMS.354[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.593)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (1-273)
______
Examines storytelling media in twentieth and twenty-first century Japan, situating emerging media aesthetics and practices alongside broader shifts in cultural and social life. Engages with pivotal works in a wide range of media including film, literature, anime, manga, and video games, as well as critical concepts in Japanese media studies. Taught in English. 21G.593 includes additional work in Japanese. Enrollment limited.
Consult P. Roquet
No required or recommended textbooks

21G.066[J] Gateway to Korean Literature and Culture
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21L.491[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-491j-gateway-to-korean-literature-and-culture/
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (66-154)
______
Introduction to two millennia of Korean literature and culture. Discusses texts, artifacts, and films in their cultural context and from a comparative global perspective. Explores poetry; historiography, story-telling, drama and fiction; philosophical and religious texts and practices; and visual materials. Includes creative exercises to help students develop their own Korean wave and K-drama passions with a critically informed eye.
Y. Noh
No textbook information available

21G.067[J] Digital Media in Japan and Korea
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as CMS.351[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.597)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the social, cultural, and political stakes of digital culture in Japan and Korea. Focuses on digital media use (and abuse), including the internet, streaming and mobile media, gaming, robots, and augmented realities; the digital remediation of older media; and methods for the study of online life. By considering how digital media use has developed in each country and reshaped identity, politics, public space, and creative practice, students build a conceptual and critical vocabulary for the comparative study of algorithmic cultures. Taught in English.
P. Roquet

21G.068 The Invention of French Theory: A History of Transatlantic Intellectual Life since 1945
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.368
______
Examines post-WWII French theory. Discusses how theorists such as Lacan, Cixous, Derrida, and Debord were perceived in France and the US. Explores transatlantic intellectual debates since 1989 and the "new" French theory. Topics include: communism, decolonization, neo-liberalism, gender and mass media. Taught in English.
B. Perreau

21G.070[J] Latin America and the Global Sixties: Counterculture and Revolution
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as CMS.355[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Close reading of political issues, cultural artifacts, and social actors of Latin America during and in the wake of the revolutionary 1960s. Examines how culture and politics addressed the need to conceptually organize a series of events that were equally momentous and confusing. Questions the established stereotypes and assumptions about Latin America and the sixties that are portrayed in its contemporary, often nostalgic, revivals. Focuses on the ideas that defined Latin America's participation in a global trend of political upheavals, emerging youth cultures, and demands for social justice. Taught in English. Enrollment limited.
P. Duong

21G.072[J] The New Latin American Novel
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as CMS.353[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Students read newly translated, recent fiction from Latin America and consider contemporary issues in, and approaches to, reading and writing literature in the 21st century. Debates the concept of contemporary in these texts and whether we can still talk about a Latin American novel. Reflects on issues of interpretation, authorship, gender, genre, media, ideology and theories of the novel, Latin American literary history, and translation. Authors may include César Aira, Mario Levrero, Samanta Schweblin, Yuri Herrera, Ena Lucía Portela, Valeria Luiselli, Roberto Bolaño, Marlon James, and J. P. Cuenca. Enrollment limited.
P. Duong

21G.073[J] The Spanish Incubator
______

Undergrad (IAP) HASS Elective
(Same subject as 21L.590[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-3
______
Students travel to Spain to explore the country's influence on our understanding of contemporary culture, from its role as the crucible of the international avant-garde, to its genesis of political art and writing, to its Civil War that ignited the artistic passion of authors around the world, to the exuberant liberation after 40 years of dictatorship. Readings include Hemingway, Lorca, Orwell, Neruda, memoirs of Americans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, Spanish poetry of the war and repression that followed, and the films of Saura and Almodovar. Films, readings, field trips to museums, and cultural events enable students to understand the full context in which today's vibrant Spanish democracy emerged. Contact Literature about travel fee and possible funding opportunities. Enrollment limited. Application required; contact Literature Headquarters for details.
M. Resnick
No textbook information available

21G.075[J] Global Chinese Migration, 1567-Present
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.253[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.196)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines Chinese migration in historical and comparative perspective, beginning in 1567 with the lifting of the imperial ban on private maritime trade. Covers migration to diverse venues across the globe, including tropical colonies, settler societies, Chinese frontiers, and postcolonial metropoles. Topics include the varied roles of Chinese migrants in these diverse venues, the coolie trade and anti-Chinese movements, overseas students, transnational networks, cultural adaptation, and the creolization of Chinese food in migrant communities. Critically examines the degree to which this transnational migration has produced a "Global Chinese" identity. Taught in English.
E. Teng

21G.077[J] Introduction to the Classics of Russian Literature
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21L.490[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.618)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW EVE (7-8.30 PM) (14E-310)
______
Explores the works of classical Russian writers of the 19th and 20th centuries, including stories and novels by Pushkin, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Bunin, Nabokov, Platonov, and others. Focuses on their approaches to portraying self and society, and on literary responses to fundamental ethical and philosophical questions about justice, freedom, free will, fate, love, loyalty, betrayal, and forgiveness.  Taught in English; students interested in completing some readings and a short writing project in Russian should register for 21G.618.
M. Khotimsky
No textbook information available

21G.078[J] Latin America Through Film
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.172[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Traces Latin American history through film and analyzes how this medium represents events in the recent and distant past. Weekly movies provide a window through which to analyze themes such as colonialism, national formation, revolution, gender, race relations, popular mobilizations and counterinsurgency. Examines films for how they represent a particular group or country, the reality they capture or obscure, and the message they convey.
T. Padilla

21G.084[J] Introduction to Latin American Studies
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 17.55[J], 21A.130[J], 21H.170[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.784)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines contemporary Latin American culture, politics, and history. Surveys geography, economic development, and race, religion, and gender in Latin America. Special emphasis on the Salvadoran civil war, human rights and military rule in Argentina and Chile, and migration from Central America and Mexico to the United States. Students analyze films, literature, visual art, journalism, historical documents, and social scientific research.
T. Padilla

21G.085[J] Imperial and Revolutionary Russia: Culture and Politics, 1700-1917
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.244[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (56-169)
______
Analyzes Russia's social, cultural, and political heritage in the 18th and 19th centuries, up to and including the Russian Revolution of 1917. Compares reforming and revolutionary impulses in the context of serfdom, the rise of the intelligentsia, and debates over capitalism. Focuses on historical and literary texts, especially the intersections between the two.
E. Wood
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21G.086[J] Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society: 1917 to the Present
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 17.57[J], 21H.245[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the political and historical evolution of the Soviet state and society from the 1917 Revolution to the present. Covers the creation of a revolutionary regime, causes and nature of the Stalin revolution, post-Stalinist efforts to achieve political and social reform, and causes of the Soviet collapse. Also examines current developments in Russia in light of Soviet history. Enrollment limited.
E. Wood

21G.087[J] Introduction to Russian Studies
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.144[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores Russian culture and society by analyzing its unique position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia throughout medieval, Imperial, Soviet, and contemporary periods. Investigates a variety of topics: defining the borders of the country and shaping its relationship with the outside world; changes in living spaces from rural to urban, development of cultural centers; and daily life, customs, and traditions. Includes readings in literature, history, and cultural studies, as well visual arts, music, and film. Limited to 25.
E. Wood, M. Khotimsky

21G.094[J] Cinema in Japan and Korea
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
(Same subject as CMS.352[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.594)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on landmark art cinema from both countries while providing a thorough introduction to film style. Each week examines a different component of film form, using the close analysis of specific films in their cultural and historical context. Explores the use of video essays as a form of critical analysis. Taught in English.
P. Roquet

21G.095[J] Cultures of Popular Music in East Asia: Japan, Korea, China
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21M.297[J], WGS.150[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.595)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores a variety of music cultures in contemporary East Asia. Emphasizes examples from Japan, but forays elsewhere, including South Korea and China. Uses writings, videos, and recordings of musical performances, events, and objects in a variety of contexts to better understand how the concept of culture gives insight into gender, class, sexuality, race, ethnicity, nationhood, and individual identities. Explores ethnographic approaches to musical cultures with a focus on the last thirty years. Topics include Japanese hip-hop, K-Pop idols, Vocaloids (virtual idols), Chinese popular music and protest, street music, streaming and online distribution for global music, and experimental music. Students conduct ethnographic fieldwork and produce sonic presentations. No music experience nor technical expertise required. Taught in English.
I. Condry

21G.111 Chinese Calligraphy
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to the ancient art of Chinese calligraphy and its traditional uses. Studies the history of the Chinese writing system and develops skills through guided reading, classroom discussion, and systematic practice with brush and ink. Students work on a small calligraphy project based on their own interest. Taught in English; no prior knowledge of Chinese language required. Limited to 25.
P. Gao


left arrow | Taught in English | Chinese | French | German | Japanese | Italian | Portuguese | Russian |
| Korean | Arabic | Spanish & Special Subjects | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 21H: History
IAP/Spring 2025


Introductory

21H.000 The History of Now
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
______
Exposes students to the study of history for a deeper understanding of the past, the present and the future by exploring current events in a historical perspective. Features guest lectures from experts inside and outside MIT. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students; preference to first-year students.
C. Capozzola

21H.001 How to Stage a Revolution
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores fundamental questions about the causes and nature of revolutions by looking at how people overthrow their rulers and establish new governments. Considers a set of major political transformations throughout the world and across centuries to understand the meaning of revolution and evaluate its impact. Examines how revolutionaries have attempted to establish their ideals and realize their goals. Asks whether radical upheavals require bloodshed, violence, or even terror. Seeks to explain why some revolutions succeed and others fail. Materials include the writings of revolutionaries, declarations and constitutions, music, films, art, novels, memoirs, and newspapers.
Staff

21H.007[J] Introduction to Ancient and Medieval Studies
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21L.014[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: M1-2.30 (66-160) Recitation: W1-2.30 (66-160)
______
Explores the fascinating history, culture, and society of the ancient and medieval worlds and the different methodologies scholars use to interpret them. Wrestles with big questions about the diversity of life and thought in pre-modern societies, the best ways to study the distant past, and the nature (and limitations) of knowledge about long-ago eras. Considers a wide range of scholarly subjects such as the rise and fall of the Roman empire, the triumph of Christianity and Islam, barbarian invasions and holy wars, courts and castles, philosophy and religion, and the diversity of art, literature, and politics. Ponders different types of evidence, reads across a variety of disciplines, and develops skills to identify continuities and changes in ancient and medieval societies.
E. Driscoll & S. Frampton
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21H.009 World History and Its Fault Lines Since 1800
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores how the world, as we know it today, came to be. Examines what it means to be modern and the consequences of modernity on people's everyday lives. Introduces real and perceived changes that made the world recognizably "modern." Surveys the rise of empires, nation-states, industrialized economies, mass consumption, popular culture, and political ideas and movements, and studies how they resulted in new, often contested, dynamics of racial, class, religious, gendered, and political identity. Instruction provided in how the evolving relationships of people with political, social, and economic structures produced a world that is highly interconnected and, at the same time, divided along different fault lines.
S. Aiyar, H. Nagahara

21H.061 The History of American Presidential Elections
______

Undergrad (Fall); first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
______
Introduces the main themes and topics in the history of presidential elections from 1788 to the present. Explores structures of the US executive branch, the primary, convention, and election systems, and the Electoral College. Students examine academic debates in history and other social sciences, and write short papers on historical and contemporary topics. Meets with 21H.203 when offered concurrently. 21H.061 is offered only in an election year (not for HASS credit) and covers the first half of the course, leading up to election day.
C. Capozzola

21H.090 Digital Humanities Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Institute Lab Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 6.100A
Units: 2-2-8
______
Combines research in HASS fields with computational methods of analysis, data collection, and presentation. Rotates to a different research project within SHASS each offering and meets with a research seminar taught by the PI of that project. Students work in teams to produce original computational research within the existing project, in collaboration with the research staff of the Programs in Digital Humanities. Leverage techniques from a wide range of practices including natural language processing, computer vision, machine learning, and web development. Repeatable for credit with permission of instructor. Limited to 25.
Staff

21H.101 American History to 1865
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
A basic history of American social, economic, and political development from the colonial period through the Civil War. Examines the colonial heritages of Spanish and British America; the American Revolution and its impact; the establishment and growth of the new nation; and the Civil War, its background, character, and impact. Readings include writings of the period by Winthrop, Paine, Jefferson, Madison, W. H. Garrison, G. Fitzhugh, H. B. Stowe, and Lincoln.
Staff

21H.102 American History since 1865
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the social, cultural, political, and economic history of the United States, from the Civil War to the present. Uses secondary analysis and primary documents, such as court cases, personal accounts, photographs, and films, to examine some of the key issues in the shaping of modern America, including industrialization and urbanization, immigration, the rise of a mass consumer society, the emergence of the US as a global power, and the development of civil rights activism and other major social movements.
Staff

21H.106[J] Black Matters: Introduction to Black Studies
______

Undergrad (Spring) Arts + Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 24.912[J], 21L.008[J], 21W.741[J], CMS.150[J], WGS.190[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T2-5 (E15-335)
______
Interdisciplinary survey of people of African descent that draws on the overlapping approaches of history, literature, anthropology, legal studies, media studies, performance, linguistics, and creative writing. Connects the experiences of African-Americans and of other American minorities, focusing on social, political, and cultural histories, and on linguistic patterns. Includes lectures, discussions, workshops, and required field trips that involve minimal cost to students.
M. DeGraff, D. Fox Harrell, D. Wood
No textbook information available

21H.107[J] From Yellow Peril to Model Minority: Asian American History to 1968
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.043[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an overview of Asian American history between the 1830s and 1968 and  its relevance for contemporary issues. Covers the first wave of Asian immigration in the 19th century, the rise of anti-Asian movements, the experiences of Asian Americans during WWII, the 1965 immigration reform, and the emergence of the Asian American movement in the 1960s. Examines the role these experiences played in the formation of Asian American ethnicity. Addresses key societal issues such as racial stereotyping, xenophobia, ethnicity and racial formation, citizenship, worker activism, immigrant community building, the "model minority" myth, and anti-Asian harassment and violence. Taught in English.
Consult E. Teng

21H.108[J] Sexual and Gender Identities in the Modern United States
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as WGS.110[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to the history of gender, sex, and sexuality in the modern United States, from the end of the 19th century to the present. Surveys historical approaches to the field, emphasizing the changing nature of sexual and gender identities over time. Traces attempts to control, construct, and contain sexual and gender identities. Examines the efforts of those who worked to resist, reject, and reform institutionalized heterosexuality and mainstream configurations of gendered power.
Staff

21H.109[J] Gender: Historical Perspectives
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as WGS.303[J])
(Subject meets with 21H.983[J], WGS.310[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W2-5 (4-144)
______
Examines the definition of gender in scientific, societal, and historical contexts. Explores how gender influences state formation and the work of the state, what role gender plays in imperialism and in the welfare state, the ever-present relationship between gender and war, and different states' regulation of the body in gendered ways at different times. Investigates new directions in the study of gender as historians, anthropologists and others have taken on this fascinating set of problems. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. Wood
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21H.130 The Ancient World: Greece
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
History of Ancient Greece from the Bronze Age to the death of Alexander. Major social, economic, political, and religious trends. Homer, heroism, and the Greek identity; the hoplite revolution and the rise of the city-state; Herodotus, Persia, and the (re)birth of history; Empire, Thucydidean rationalism, and the Peloponnesian War; Aristotle, Macedonia, and Hellenism. Emphasis on use of primary sources in translation.
E. Driscoll

21H.132 The Ancient World: Rome
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
History of Rome from its humble beginnings to the 5th century A.D. First half: Kingship to Republican form; the conquest of Italy; Roman expansion: Pyrrhus, Punic Wars and provinces; classes, courts, and the Roman revolution; Augustus and the formation of empire. Second half: Virgil to the Vandals; major social, economic, political and religious trends at Rome and in the provinces. Emphasis on use of primary sources in translation. Enrollment limited.
W. Broadhead

21H.133 The Medieval World
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Investigates the dynamic history of Europe and the wider world between the late Roman empire and voyages of discovery. Examines the rise of Christianity, the cult of the saints, and monasticism; the decline of the Roman empire, the barbarian invasions, and the foundation of post-Roman kingdoms; the meteoric rise of Islam; the formation of the Carolingian, Byzantine, and Islamic empires; the Vikings and Mongols; castles, knights, and crusades; religious thinkers, reformers, and heretics; changes in art, architecture, and literature; the Black Death and the fall of Constantinople; the Italian Renaissance and the voyages of discovery.
E. Goldberg

21H.134[J] Medieval Economic History in Comparative Perspective
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 14.70[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys the foundations of material life and changing social and economic conditions in medieval Europe in their broader Eurasian context. Covers the gradual disintegration of the Roman imperial order, the emergence and decline of feudal institutions, the transformation of peasant agriculture, living standards and the impact of climate and disease environments, and the ebb and flow of long-distance trade across the Eurasian system. Particular emphasis on the study of those factors, both institutional and technological, which contributed to the emergence of capitalist organization and economic growth in western Europe in comparison to the trajectories followed by the other major medieval economies.
A. McCants

21H.135 J.R.R. Tolkien: Scholar, Author, and Thinker
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores how an Oxford professor of medieval philology and literature wrote the most influential work of fantasy, The Lord of the Rings. Investigates how Tolkien's scholarship on Anglo-Saxon and Middle English, fascination with inventing languages, experiences during the First World War, and Catholic faith shaped the creation of his fantasy world often (mistakenly) called Middle Earth. Examines Tolkien's books within the context of his life, scholarship, ideas, and beliefs to uncover how an author of fantasy literature helped shape the image of the Middle Ages in the modern popular imagination. Considers the extent to which film adaptations do justice to the complexity of Tolkien's stories, themes, and characters.
E. Goldberg

21H.141 Renaissance to Revolution: Europe, 1300-1800
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to major political, social, cultural and intellectual changes in Europe from the beginnings of the Renaissance in Italy around 1300 to the outbreak of the French Revolution at the end of the 1700s. Focuses on the porous boundaries between categories of theology, magic and science. Examines how developments in these areas altered European political institutions, social structures, and cultural practices. Studies men and women, nobles and commoners, as well as Europeans and some non-Europeans with whom they came into contact.
Staff

21H.143[J] The "Making" of Modern Europe: 1789-Present
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.056[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.356)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an overview of European history from 1789 to the present. Explores how the ideas of "European" and "modern" have been defined over time. Explores major events and the evolution of major tensions and issues that consumed Europe and Europeans through the period, including questions of identity, inclusion/exclusion, religion, and equality. Places major emphasis on the fiction, visual culture, and films of the century as the products and evidence of political, social and cultural change. Taught in English.
E. Kempf

21H.144[J] Introduction to Russian Studies
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.087[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores Russian culture and society by analyzing its unique position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia throughout medieval, Imperial, Soviet, and contemporary periods. Investigates a variety of topics: defining the borders of the country and shaping its relationship with the outside world; changes in living spaces from rural to urban, development of cultural centers; and daily life, customs, and traditions. Includes readings in literature, history, and cultural studies, as well visual arts, music, and film. Limited to 25.
E. Wood, M. Khotimsky

21H.145[J] French Photography
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 4.674[J], 21G.049[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces students to the world of French photography from its invention in the 1820s to the present. Provides exposure to major photographers and images of the French tradition and encourages students to explore the social and cultural roles and meanings of photographs. Designed to help students navigate their own photo-saturated worlds; provides opportunity to gain practical experience in photography. Taught in English. Enrollment limited.
C. Clark

21H.151 Dynastic China
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the first dynasty to 1800. Traces the rise of the world's first centralized bureaucratic state, the development of the world's oldest living written culture, and the formation of the pre-modern world's largest single commercial market. Studies women and men as they founded dynasties, engaged in philosophy, challenged orthodoxies, and invented technologies used around the globe. Explores China's past to understand the country's present, and reflects on what its stories mean for the global world.
T. Brown

21H.152 Modern China
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Discusses China's emergence as a global power, which has arisen out of two centuries of significant change. Explores those transformations from 1800 to the present by examining the advent of foreign imperialism in the nineteenth century, the collapse of the last imperial dynasty in 1911, China's debilitating war against Japan, the communist revolution, and the tumultuous history of the People's Republic of China from 1949. Addresses the historical transformations that have shaped contemporary Chinese politics, ethnicity, gender, environment, economics, and international relations.
T. Brown

21H.154 Inventing the Samurai
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Subject meets with 21G.554)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (26-168)
______
Explores the historical origins of the Japanese warrior class as well as its reinvention throughout the archipelago's history. Special focus on the pre-modern era (200-1600 CE). Highlights key historical contexts including the rise of the imperial court, interactions with the broader world, and the establishment of a warrior-dominated state. Also considers the modern imaginations and uses of the warrior figure.
H. Nagahara
No required or recommended textbooks

21H.155 Modern Japan: 1600 to Present
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Subject meets with 21G.555)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys Japanese history from the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603 to the present and explores the local and global nature of modernity in Japan. Highlights key themes, including the emergence of a modern nation-state, the rise and fall of the Japanese Empire, the development of mass consumer culture and the middle class, and the continued importance of historical memory in Japan today.
H. Nagahara

21H.156[J] Global Chinese Food: A Historical Overview
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.045[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the history of Chinese food around the world. Illustrates how the globalization of Chinese food is deeply connected to Chinese migration patterns, expansion of Western influence in Asia, Chinese entrepreneurship, and interethnic relations in places of Chinese settlement. With an overview of earlier periods in Chinese history, focuses on the 18th through 20th centuries, specifically on major events in modern world history that affected the availability and demand for Chinese food. Considers environmental issues in relation to China's changing food systems. Includes a mandatory field trip to Boston Chinatown. Taught in English. Limited to 30.
Staff

21H.157 Modern South Asia
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the political, social, and economic history of South Asia from the 18th century to the present day. Topics include colonial rule; anti-colonial movements; nationalism and the creation of modern India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh; the post-colonial nation state; social movements; religious identity; involvement of the United States in the region; and economic development. Students develop an understanding of the current successes, failures, and challenges facing the people and states of contemporary South Asia from a historical perspective.
S. Aiyar

21H.160 Islam, the Middle East, and the West
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides students with an overview of basic themes and issues in Middle Eastern history from the rise of Islam to the present, with an emphasis on exchanges and encounters between the Middle East and Europe/North America. Examines the history of the notion of "East" and "West;" the emergence of Islam and the Christianization of Europe; Ottoman expansion; the flourishing of European powers; European competition with and colonization of Middle Eastern societies, and Middle Eastern responses, including Arab and Iranian nationalisms as well as the rise of Political Islam, the "Clash of Civilizations", and Islamophobia.
P. Alimagham

21H.161 The Modern Middle East
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW12 (4-231) Recitation: R1 (1-273) or R2 (1-273)
______
Surveys the history of the Middle East, from the end of the 19th century to the present. Examines major political, social, intellectual and cultural issues and practices. Focuses on important events, movements, and ideas that prevailed during the last century and affect its current realities. Enrollment limited.
P. Alimagham
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21H.165 A Survey of Modern African History
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (1-273)
______
Surveys the history of 19th- and 20th-century Africa. Focuses on the European conquest of Africa and the dynamics of colonial rule, especially its socioeconomic and cultural consequences. Looks at how the rising tide of African nationalism, in the form of labor strikes and guerrilla wars, ushered out colonialism. Examines the postcolonial states, focusing on the politics of development, recent civil wars in countries like Rwanda and Liberia, the AIDS epidemic, and the history of Apartheid in South Africa up to 1994.
K. Mutongi
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21H.170[J] Introduction to Latin American Studies
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 17.55[J], 21A.130[J], 21G.084[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.784)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines contemporary Latin American culture, politics, and history. Surveys geography, economic development, and race, religion, and gender in Latin America. Special emphasis on the Salvadoran civil war, human rights and military rule in Argentina and Chile, and migration from Central America and Mexico to the United States. Students analyze films, literature, visual art, journalism, historical documents, and social scientific research.
T. Padilla

21H.172[J] Latin America Through Film
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.078[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Traces Latin American history through film and analyzes how this medium represents events in the recent and distant past. Weekly movies provide a window through which to analyze themes such as colonialism, national formation, revolution, gender, race relations, popular mobilizations and counterinsurgency. Examines films for how they represent a particular group or country, the reality they capture or obscure, and the message they convey.
T. Padilla

21H.173 Socialism in Latin America, from Che Guevara to Hugo Chavez
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores various socialist projects in the Americas. Studies how Latin America's poor have supported socialism as an alternative to capitalist exploitation, as a strategy to break colonial vestiges, and an anti-imperialist ideology. Focuses on various case studies to address the meaning of socialism, how governments have implemented socialism and who has fought against it. Explores how socialism has attempted to address women's rights and combat racism, and how socialist projects have extended beyond national borders.
T. Padilla

21H.181[J] Libertarianism
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 17.035[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the history of the ideal of individual liberty in light of contemporary arguments over the proper scope of the regulatory state. Surveys the political theory of freedom and its relationship to other dominant norms (e.g., property, equality, community, republicanism, innovation, and the pursuit of wealth). Revisits the diversity of modern libertarian movements with attention to issues such as abolitionism and the Civil Rights revolution, religious liberty, the right to bear arms, and LGBTQ rights. Concludes with a set of policy and legal/constitutional debates about the role of government in regulating the financial markets, artificial intelligence, and/or the internet.
M. Ghachem

21H.185[J] Environment and History
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 12.386[J], STS.031[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focusing on the period from 1500 to the present, explores the influence of climate, topography, plants, animals, and microorganisms on human history and the reciprocal influence of people on the environment. Topics include the European encounter with the Americas, the impact of modern technology, and the current environmental crisis. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21H.186 Nature and Environment in China
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on the late imperial period with forays into the modern area. Explores how Chinese states and people related to and shaped their environments, which, in turn, shaped China. Considers the degree to which China's long environmental history has integrated with global trends and ponders the historical experiences and precedents we bring to today's environmental challenges. Explores the diverse ways in which scholars study China's environmental history and conceptions of nature, including the use of digital humanities tools for visualizing data and analyzing geography.
T. Brown

21H.187 US Environmental Governance: from National Parks to the Green New Deal
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the interwoven threads of politics, economics, and the environment in the 20th century.  Examines topics such as preservation, conservation, national park creation, federal projects, infrastructure, economic growth, hydrocarbon society, international development, nuclear power, consumer rights, public health crises, environmentalism, Earth Day, globalization, sustainability, and climate change.  Studies how politics, economics, and environment converged in modern U.S. history, the "Green New Deal" and how its role promoting economic growth conflicts with its commitments to environmental management, and the emergence of the environmental movement.
M. Black

Intermediate

21H.201 The American Revolution
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T2-5 (E51-393)
______
Covers the American Revolution in the broadest sense; not only the independence movement and the military conflict, but also the liberation struggles launched by Indigenous people, enslaved Americans, free women, and others. Modes of learning could include reenactments, close reading of primary sources, or field trips. Field trips may be optional or mandatory depending on scheduling.
M. Kars
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21H.203 The History of American Presidential Elections
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the main themes and topics in the history of presidential elections from 1788 to the present. Explores structures of the US executive branch, the primary, convention, and election systems, and the Electoral College. Students examine academic debates in history and other social sciences, and undertake a research project based on a past election of their choosing. Meets with 21H.061 when offered concurrently. 21H.061 is offered only in an election year (not for HASS credit) and covers the first half of the course, leading up to election day.
C. Capozzola

21H.205[J] The Civil War and the Emergence of Modern America: 1861-1890
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as STS.027[J])
(Subject meets with STS.427)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Using the American Civil War as a baseline, considers what it means to become "modern" by exploring the war's material and manpower needs, associated key technologies, and how both influenced the United States' entrance into the age of "Big Business." Readings include material on steam transportation, telegraphic communications, arms production, naval innovation, food processing, medicine, public health, management methods, and the mass production of everything from underwear to uniforms – all essential ingredients of modernity. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. R. Smith

21H.211 The United States in the Cold War Era
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the culture that developed in the US during the early years of the Cold War, at the dawn of the nuclear age. Topics include new family structures and civil defense strategies that emerged in response to the promise and perils of nuclear power; the role of anxiety and insecurity in transforming American politics and psychology; the development of computing technology and the changes it brought to American workspaces; the social impacts of space exploration, suburbanization, and the construction of highways and shopping malls; and new models used by social scientists and other experts to predict human behavior and the future.
C. Horan

21H.213[J] The War at Home: American Politics and Society in Wartime
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 17.28[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the relationship between war and domestic politics in the US since the start of 20th century. Students engage in historical and social scientific research to analyze the ways that overseas military commitments shaped US political institutions, and how domestic politics has in turn structured US engagements abroad. Moving chronologically from World War I to the Iraq War, subject draws on materials across the disciplines, including political documents, opinion polls, legal decisions, and products of American popular culture.
A. Berinsky, C. Capozzola

21H.214 War and American Society
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines how issues of war and national security have affected politics, economics, and society from the First World War to the war in Iraq. Draws on historical evidence as well as representations in film, music and popular culture.
C. Capozzola

21H.217[J] American Urban History
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 11.013[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T2-4 (8-205)
______
Seminar on the history of institutions and institutional change in American cities from roughly 1850 to the present. Among the institutions to be looked at are political machines, police departments, courts, schools, prisons, public authorities, and universities. Focuses on readings and discussions.
E. Glenn
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21H.218[J] History of the Built Environment in the US
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 11.014[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
______
Seminar on the history of selected features of the physical environment of urban America. Among the features considered are parks, cemeteries, tenements, suburbs, zoos, skyscrapers, department stores, supermarkets, and amusement parks.
Staff

21H.220[J] Metropolis: A Comparative History of New York City
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 11.150[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (1-273)
______
Examines the evolution of New York City from 1607 to the present. Readings focus on the city's social and physical histories. Discussions compare New York's development to patterns in other cities.
C. Wilder
No required or recommended textbooks

21H.225 History of American Capitalism
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-10
______
Discussion-based seminar offering an introduction to the history of capitalism and a broad overview of debates concerning its impacts on social life, with a particular focus on the modern American experience. Examines the central position that the United States occupies in today's capitalist global system and the key role it has played in shaping both the development of capitalism and critical responses to its advance. Drawing on primary historical documents and secondary literature from multiple disciplines, students examine capitalism's historical relationship to race, class, gender, government, finance, technology, and the natural environment. Limited to 15.
Staff

21H.226[J] Riots, Strikes, and Conspiracies in American History
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 11.015[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on a series of short, complicated, traumatic events that shed light on American politics, culture, and society. Events studied may include the rendition of Anthony Burns in 1854, the most famous fugitive slave controversy in US history; the Homestead strike/lockout of 1892; the quiz show scandal of the 1950s; and the student uprisings at Columbia University in 1968. Emphasis on finding ways to make sense of these events and on using them to understand larger processes of change in American history.
Staff

21H.227 History of the US Supreme Court
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Exploration of the historical development of constitutional law and the relationship between the Supreme Court and broader social, political, and cultural trends. Introduces major themes and patterns of change in American constitutional law since 1787, including federal-state relations, racial and gender equality, economic regulation, and civil liberties. Readings consist of original court cases, especially from the US Supreme Court, including cases of the current term.
C. Capozzola

21H.228 American Classics
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Students read, discuss, and write about critical works in American history from the 17th through the 20th centuries. Includes writings by early Puritan writers, Franklin, Paine, Jefferson, and Madison; Lewis and Clark; Frederick Douglass; Harriet Beecher Stowe; the Lincoln-Douglas debates; U. S. Grant, W. E. B. Dubois, Andrew Carnegie, Horatio Alger, F. D. Roosevelt, Betty Friedan, and Martin Luther King, Jr. May also include music, recorded speeches, television programs, visual images, or films. Enrollment limited.
C. Wilder

21H.229 The Black Radical Tradition in America
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on American history from the African-American perspective. Includes alternative visions of the nation's future, and definitions of its progress, that have called for a fundamental restructuring of political, economic and social relations. Introduces events, figures and institutions that have shaped African-American history, from the struggles to dominate the African coast and the emergence of a modern slave trade, through the fall of the Western slave societies. Also examines the experiences of Africans in other parts of North America, as well as South America and the Caribbean.
C. Wilder

21H.230 Barbarians, Saints, and Emperors
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the late Roman Empire and its transformations during Late Antiquity (c.300-c.700). Questions the traditional decline and fall narrative of the period, which argues that Christianity and barbarians destroyed classical civilization and ushered in the Dark Ages. Explores such topics as Romans and barbarians, paganism and Christianity, politics and war, Rome and Constantinople, and bishops and saints. Discusses the influence of such characters as Constantine the Great, St. Augustine, Attila the Hun, and the prophet Mohammed.
E. Goldberg

21H.237 The City of Athens in the Age of Pericles
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (4-144)
______
Historical topography of ancient Athens. Investigates the relationship between urban architecture and political, social, and cultural history of Athens in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Surveys and analyzes archeological and literary evidence, including the sanctuary of Athena on the Acropolis, the Agora, Greek houses, the histories of Herodotus and Thucydides, plays of Sophocles and Aristophanes, and the panhellenic sanctuaries of Delphi and Olympia.
E. Driscoll
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21H.238 The Vikings
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the complex relationship of the Vikings with the medieval world. Investigates the dynamics of Viking expansion, not only in terms of raiding and conflict, but also as a process of diplomacy, settlement, assimilation, and colonization. Examines developments within Scandinavian society such as state formation, social structures, trade, shipbuilding, slavery, urban growth, and Christianization. Considers the methodological difficulties presented by the diverse and often contradictory historical sources for information about the Vikings, such as chronicles, archaeology, coin hoards, stone inscriptions, and sagas.
E. Goldberg

21H.239 The City of Rome in the Age of the Caesars
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Historical topography of Ancient Rome. Investigates the relationship between urban architecture and the political, social, and cultural history of Rome from the 1st century BC to the 2nd century AD. Surveys and analyzes archaeological and literary evidence, including the Roman Forum, the Imperial fora, the palace of the emperors, the atrium houses of Roman Pompeii, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Polybius' history, Martial's Epigrams, and Vitruvius' treatise on architecture.
W. Broadhead

21H.240 The World of Charlemagne
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (E51-385)
______
Investigates the world of the first medieval emperor, Charles the Great, or Charlemagne (768-814). Focuses on how Charlemagne and his dynasty, the Carolingians (ruled 751-888), forged a vast empire out of the diverse peoples and territories of Europe - not only through conquests and military might, but through Christianity and the Church, education and literacy, government and law, art and architecture, and a fundamental reorganization of the economy and society. Considers the enduring contributions of Charlemagne and his family to the formation of Europe as well as the shortcomings and failures of their empire.
E. Goldberg
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21H.241[J] France and Haiti: Enlightenment, Slavery, and Revolution
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.054[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W EVE (7-10 PM) (E51-285)
______
Explores the relationship between the Enlightenment, slavery, and the French and Haitian revolutions. Studies France and Haiti prior to 1789, analyzes some of the central texts of the Enlightenment with an emphasis on ideas about monarchy, slavery, and democracy. Considers the place of these ideas and the role of popular mobilization in the French and Haitian revolutionary era from 1789 to 1804. Concludes with an examination of some of the legacies of the eighteenth-century experience for modern French and Haitian politics.
M. Ghachem
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21H.242[J] Frenchness in an Era of Globalization
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.322[J])
Prereq: One intermediate subject in French or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Approaches the question of what constitutes Frenchness in today's era of globalization through issues of memory, belonging, and cultural production. Explores the role of timeless traditions - common technologies, an internationally-spoken language, monuments open to the world, and foods such as wine and cheese - remain quintessentially French. Also covers recent scandals about France's role in the world, such as its colonial identity and Dominique Strauss-Kahn's New York debacle. Taught in French. Limited to 18.
C. Clark

21H.244[J] Imperial and Revolutionary Russia: Culture and Politics, 1700-1917
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.085[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (56-169)
______
Analyzes Russia's social, cultural, and political heritage in the 18th and 19th centuries, up to and including the Russian Revolution of 1917. Compares reforming and revolutionary impulses in the context of serfdom, the rise of the intelligentsia, and debates over capitalism. Focuses on historical and literary texts, especially the intersections between the two.
E. Wood
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21H.245[J] Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society: 1917 to the Present
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 17.57[J], 21G.086[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the political and historical evolution of the Soviet state and society from the 1917 Revolution to the present. Covers the creation of a revolutionary regime, causes and nature of the Stalin revolution, post-Stalinist efforts to achieve political and social reform, and causes of the Soviet collapse. Also examines current developments in Russia in light of Soviet history. Enrollment limited.
E. Wood

21H.247[J] Looking East/Looking West
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.050[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines how objects and images mediate encounters between people and helped define the "Orient" and the "Occident." Explores the visual and material culture as well as textual accounts produced by and consumed during encounters between European and Asian travelers, diplomats, artists, writers, and tourists since the seventeenth century. Considers the frameworks scholars have used to understand these encounters and how we might deploy those frameworks ourselves. Employs historical thinking to work on our skills of visual and cultural analysis. Questions how these legacies of material and visual exchange have shaped the community within Boston area.
C. Clark, H. Nagahara

21H.253[J] Global Chinese Migration, 1567-Present
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.075[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.196)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines Chinese migration in historical and comparative perspective, beginning in 1567 with the lifting of the imperial ban on private maritime trade. Covers migration to diverse venues across the globe, including tropical colonies, settler societies, Chinese frontiers, and postcolonial metropoles. Topics include the varied roles of Chinese migrants in these diverse venues, the coolie trade and anti-Chinese movements, overseas students, transnational networks, cultural adaptation, and the creolization of Chinese food in migrant communities. Critically examines the degree to which this transnational migration has produced a "Global Chinese" identity. Taught in English.
E. Teng

21H.260 Cities in the Middle East: History, Politics and Society
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the role and centrality of cities in the history of the modern Middle East, through political, social, cultural and urban interactions. Begins with a theoretical introduction of the different approaches for investigating urban spaces, and follows with discussions of case studies that demonstrate the diversity of urban centers in the Middle East, including Beirut, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Mecca, Algiers, and Cairo.
Staff

21H.261 Modern Iran: A Century of Revolution
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an overview of Iran's modern history from a social, cultural, and political perspective while also considering factors as they relate to gender and race. Covers the country's long and complicated interaction with the "West." Situates Iran in the wider region, thereby delineating how political trends in the Middle East influenced the country and how its history of revolution has in turn impacted the region. Unpacks the Sunni-Shi'ite divide as a modern phenomenon rooted more in inter-state rivalry than in a theological dispute, Western perceptions of the Iranian and the Middle Eastern "Other," the Iranian Diaspora, political Islam, and post-Islamism.
P. Alimagham

21H.262 Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys the history and various realities and challenges of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Introduces the fundamental historical trajectories of the conflict. Analyzes the conflicting narratives and perceptions of both Palestinians and Israelis over key moments and issues in the conflict's history. Considers current challenges and possible solutions to the conflict. Limited to 40.
P. Alimagham

21H.263[J] Women and Gender in the Middle East and North Africa
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21A.138[J], WGS.220[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: F10-1 (2-103)
______
Provides an overview of key issues and themes in the study of women and gender relations in the Middle East and North Africa. Includes readings from a variety of disciplines, e.g., history, anthropology, sociology, literature, religious studies, and media studies. Addresses themes such as the relationship between the concepts of nation and gender; women's citizenship; Middle Eastern women's activism and the involvement of their Western "sisters" to this movement; gendered interpretations of the Qur'an and the example of the Prophet Muhammad; and the three H's of Orientalism (hijab, harem, and hamam).
L. Eckmekcioglu
No textbook information available

21H.265 Humanitarianism and Africa: A Critical History
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines two centuries of foreign interventions in Africa in the name of humanitarian principles, from the abolition of the slave trade to the most recent Ebola crisis in West Africa. Explores humanitarianism and how it informs the understanding of poverty, race, and violence; and who gives and receives aid. Scrutinizes the prejudices about Africans embedded within salvation projects and how these campaigns have been part of the larger dynamics of power that have defined Africa's position in the world before, during, and after the European colonization of the continent. Reflects upon the practical and morally ethical alternatives in a world still shaped by suffering and injustice.
K. Mutongi

21H.266 South Africa and Apartheid
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (56-154)
______
Explores the spatial, legal, economic, social and political structures that created Apartheid in South Africa, and the factors that led to the collapse of the racist order. Examines the many forces of black oppression and the various forms of resistance to Apartheid. Themes include industrialization and the formation of the black working classes, constructions of race, ethnicities and sexualities, land alienation and rural struggles, township poverty and violence, black education, and the Black Consciousness Movement.
K. Mutongi
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21H.267 Atlantic Slave Revolts
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the many ways enslaved people in the Americas resisted slavery, individually and collectively. Studies shipboard revolts, maronage, conspiracies, and armed uprisings. Investigates the causes and organization of rebellion. Uses the topic of rebellion to study how historians analyze and use primary sources, historical context, and write convincing prose. 
M. Kars

21H.268 Urban History in Africa
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the emergence of cities in sub-Saharan Africa, and traces major themes in the history of urban Africa. Examines urban Africans at work and leisure, including their popular culture and politics and the conflicts that arise from the cities' growth. Questions how the city emerged in Africa, what distinguishes African cities, and how urban Africans have responded to the dramatic historical changes and intense cultural interactions of African history (e.g. colonialism, industrialization, urbanization, globalization). Incorporates scholarly monographs and articles, African life histories, primary sources, fiction, and film to explore the variety of perspectives on urban history in Africa.
K. Mutongi 

21H.270[J] Latinx in the Age of Empire
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21A.131[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Analyzes the histories and presence of the Latinx population in the context of US territorial expansion, foreign intervention and economic policy toward Latin America. Combines both historical and anthropological approaches to analyze local conditions that lead people to migrate within the broader forces of international political economy. Pays attention to the historical context in the home countries, especially as impacted by US policy. Explores Latinx community dynamics, politics of migrant labor, relational formations of race and transnational forms of belonging. Historically and ethnographically seeks to understand structures of criminalization, activist practices of resistance and the development of deportation regimes.
H. Beltran, T. Padilla

21H.273 From Coca to Cocaine: Drug Economies in Latin America
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores how drug production and consumption has affected Latin America's political, cultural and economic life and shaped US foreign policy toward the region. Discusses the history of different psychoactive substances and analyzes why certain drugs became illegal. Pays particular attention to the relationship between strategies of interdiction, poverty, and drug violence. Limited to 35.
T. Padilla

21H.274[J] Creation of a Continent: Media Representations of Hispanic America, 1492 to present
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.731[J], CMS.357[J])
Prereq: One intermediate Spanish subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Traces the creation of a new literature in Spanish to record and interpret New World experiences. Begins with excerpts from Columbus's diary and ends with writings on the late 19th-century Cuban and Puerto Rican independence movements. Pairs some of these pre-20th-century texts with more recent literary and film interpretations of the first 400 years of Hispanic American history. Conducted in Spanish.
Staff

21H.281 MIT and Slavery: Research
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the influence of slavery and race on MIT's founding and early development, and the connections between slavery and the rise of sciences and engineering. Students will have their research projects published through the MIT and Slavery website. While 21H.281 and 21H.282 are sequential, students have the option of taking either or both.
C. Wilder

21H.282 MIT and Slavery: Publication
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Students work on turning research from 21H.281 into publishable quality essays, researching images and other supporting documentary materials, and developing the main narrative of the MIT and Slavery website, for which they receive editorial credit. While 21H.281 and 21H.282 are sequential, students have the option of taking either or both.
Staff

21H.283 The Indigenous History of MIT
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Students work with MIT faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as faculty and researchers at other universities and centers, to focus on how Indigenous people and communities have influenced the rise and development of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Students build a research portfolio that will include an original research essay, archival and bibliographic records, maps and images, and other relevant documentary and supporting materials. Limited to 15.
Staff

21H.284 South Asia, the United States, and MIT: Transformative Connections
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-10
Lecture: W11-1 (E51-285)
______
Explores the longstanding connections between MIT and South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal) since 1882. Investigates the history of MIT's alumni, faculty, and staff to examine the history of colonization and nation-building in South Asia, race and immigration in the United States, and globalization and technical revolutions across the world. Examines key historical moments of significance to both South Asia and America such as decolonization, the Cold War, and globalization as they intersected with the lives of MIT's South Asian affiliates. Instruction provided in historical methodologies through archival research and oral histories that are showcased in a final project. Limited to 18.
S. Aiyar
No required or recommended textbooks

21H.285[J] Making the Modern World: The Industrial Revolution in Global Perspective
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as STS.025[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Global survey of the great transformation in history known as the "Industrial Revolution." Topics include origins of mechanized production, the factory system, steam propulsion, electrification, mass communications, mass production and automation. Emphasis on the transfer of technology and its many adaptations around the world. Countries treated include Great Britain, France, Germany, the US, Sweden, Russia, Japan, China, and India. Includes brief reflection papers and a final paper.
M. R. Smith

21H.289 History Near and Dear: Writing Yourself into History
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (E51-385)
______
Studies a broad range of writers who have investigated their family history or an instance of local history near and dear to their hearts. Examines questions about historical and emotional truths, memory and identity and place, and the ability of individual experience to illuminate a broader social and political history. Selected texts are simultaneously narrative nonfiction, investigative memoir, and cultural criticism. Students produce a paper investigating an aspect of their own family or local history. Exercises include workshops, peer-review, reflections, and revisions.
M. Kars
No textbook information available

21H.290 Economic Classics: The History of Economic Ideas from Ancient Times to the Present
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Subject meets with 21H.920)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3-4.30 (4-261) +final
______
Surveys the history of economics by introducing students to some of the most powerful and influential economic thinkers, from Xenophon and Huan K'uan through Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and Paul Samuelson, to Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo. Explores the evolution of key economic concepts — the state and the market, natural resources, and crises — by situating them in historical context and perspective. Through the close reading, analysis and discussion of some of the most important texts in the history of economic thought, traces the development of ideas, norms and ways of thinking that continue to shape decision-making in both daily life and global policy. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
A. McCants
No required or recommended textbooks


left arrow | Introductory & Intermediate (21H.000-21H.299) | Seminars, Special Subjects, Graduate Subjects, & Research (21H.30-21H.999) | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 21L: Literature
IAP/Spring 2025


The subjects listed below are arranged in three graduated categories or tiers:

1) Introductory subjects (21L.000-21L.024) all carry HASS Distribution and Communications Intensive (CI-H or CI-HW) credit.

2) Samplings (21L.310-21L.338, 21L.345-21L.355) are 6-unit subjects that provide both an alternative route into literary study and a less intensive means for students to sustain a commitment to reading and textual interpretation. Their focus is on critical exploration, comprehension, and group discussion, with less sustained attention to analytic writing skills. Students can combine two 6-unit Samplings subjects to count as a HASS subject in the Humanities category and the equivalent of a subject in the Intermediate tier. See the HASS Requirement website or contact Literature Headquarters for details.

3) Intermediate subjects (21L.430-21L.639) explore literary and visual forms in greater depth and center on historical periods, literary themes, or genres; others focus on media studies, comparative cultural studies, or national literatures.

4) Seminars (21L.640-21L.715) are more advanced and are often communication intensive.

A supplement to this catalog, available online and from the Literature Section offices, offers more detailed descriptions of all literature subjects and includes specific information about required texts, writing assignments, and examinations.

Introductory Subjects

21L.000[J] Writing About Literature
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
(Same subject as 21W.041[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-000j-writing-about-literature/
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (4-251)
______
Intensive focus on the reading and writing skills used to analyze literary texts such as poems by Emily Dickinson, Shakespeare or Langston Hughes; short stories by Chekhov, Joyce, or Alice Walker; and a short novel by Melville or Toni Morrison. Designed not only to prepare students for further work in writing and literary and media study, but also to provide increased confidence and pleasure in their reading, writing, and analytical skills. Students write or revise essays weekly. Enrollment limited.
Fall: C. Doyle
Spring: N. Jackson
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.001 Foundations of Western Literature: Homer to Dante
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies a broad range of texts essential to understanding the two great sources of Western conceptions of the world and humanity's place within it: the ancient world of Greece and Rome and the Judeo-Christian world that challenged and absorbed it. Readings vary but usually include works by Homer, Sophocles, Aristotle, Plato, Virgil, St. Augustine, and Dante. Enrollment limited.
James Buzard

21L.002 Foundations of Western Literature: From Shakespeare to the Present
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
A broad survey of texts, literary, philosophical, and sociological, studied to trace the growth of secular humanism, the loss of a supernatural perspective upon human events, and changing conceptions of individual, social, and communal purpose. Stresses appreciation and analysis of texts that came to represent the common cultural possession of our time. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21L.003 Reading Fiction
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-003-reading-fiction/
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (14N-112)
______
Samples prose narrative from different traditions, examining texts that feature distinctive styles and formal rhythms in their social and historical contexts. May include European and US classics, alongside global and contemporary authors. Considers writing and reading as forms of social engagement, with special attention to the ways that authors borrow from and innovate on the past. Enrollment limited.
J. Buzard
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.004 Reading Poetry
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-004-reading-poetry/
Lecture: MW EVE (7-8.30 PM) (14N-112) or M2-5 (5-231)
______
Concentrates on close analysis of poems written in English in various forms (lyric, epic, dramatic). Syllabus varies from term to term but typically includes Shakespeare, Milton, Wordsworth, Blake, Keats, Whitman, Dickinson, Frost, Eliot, Langston Hughes, Lowell, and Plath. Enrollment limited.
Fall: N. Jackson, A. Bahr
Spring: S. Tapscott, J. Bennett
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.005[J] Introduction to Drama
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21T.141[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
A study of the history of theater art and practice from its origins to the modern period, including its roles in non-Western cultures. Special attention to the relationship between the literary and performative dimensions of drama, and the relationship between drama and its cultural context. Enrollment limited.
Sandy Alexandre

21L.008[J] Black Matters: Introduction to Black Studies
______

Undergrad (Spring) Arts + Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 24.912[J], 21H.106[J], 21W.741[J], CMS.150[J], WGS.190[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T2-5 (E15-335)
______
Interdisciplinary survey of people of African descent that draws on the overlapping approaches of history, literature, anthropology, legal studies, media studies, performance, linguistics, and creative writing. Connects the experiences of African-Americans and of other American minorities, focusing on social, political, and cultural histories, and on linguistic patterns. Includes lectures, discussions, workshops, and required field trips that involve minimal cost to students.
M. DeGraff, D. Fox Harrell, D. Wood
No textbook information available

21L.009 Shakespeare
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-009-shakespeare/
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (1-379)
______
Focuses on the close reading of six to eight of Shakespeare plays, as well as their adaptation for stage and/or film. Selected texts cover the range of genres in which Shakespeare wrote (i.e., history, comedy, tragedy, and romance). Special emphasis in some terms on performances and adaptions of Shakespearean drama around the world. Plays studied vary across sections and from term to term, and have recently included Henry IV Part 1, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, King Lear, Othello, and The Tempest. Enrollment limited.
S. Raman
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.010[J] Writing with Shakespeare
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
(Same subject as 21W.042[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on writing and speaking using Shakespeare as a model and means for mastery of English language skills. Emphasizes the development of students' ability to write clearly and effectively in a range of genres with an awareness of audience. Designed to increase students' confidence and pleasure in verbal communication and analysis of language. Students write frequently, give and receive feedback, improve their work through revision, and participate actively in class discussions and presentations. Enrollment limited.
D. Henderson

21L.011 Introduction to Film Studies
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-011-the-film-experience/
Lecture: T3.30-5 (3-270) Lab: M EVE (7-10 PM) (3-270) Recitation: R3 (1-273) or R4 (1-273) or R3 (1-246)
______
Concentrates on close analysis and criticism of a wide range of films, including works from the early silent period, documentary and avant-garde films, European art cinema, and contemporary Hollywood fare. Through comparative reading of films from different eras and countries, students develop the skills to turn their in-depth analyses into interpretations and explore theoretical issues related to spectatorship. Syllabus varies from term to term, but usually includes such directors as Eisenstein, Fellini, Godard, Griffith, Hawks, Hitchcock, Kubrick, Kurosawa, Tarantino, Welles, and Wiseman.
Fall: J. Ruffin
Spring: E. Brinkema
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.012 Forms of Western Narrative
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines a wide assortment of narrative forms, from Homer to the present, and considers why and how stories are told. Focuses on the close reading of literary and cultural issues, the emergence of different narrative genres, and how different media affect the construction and interpretation of narratives. Syllabus varies by term, but usually includes materials such as epics, novels, tales, short stories, films, television programs, graphic novels, and interactive games. Enrollment limited.
Jessica Ruffin

21L.013[J] The Supernatural in Music, Literature and Culture
______

Undergrad (Fall) Arts + Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21M.013[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the relationship between music and the supernatural, focusing on the social history and context of supernatural beliefs as reflected in key literary and musical works from 1600 to the present. Provides an understanding of the place of ambiguity and the role of interpretation in culture, science and art. Explores great works of art by Shakespeare, Verdi, Goethe (in translation), Gounod, Henry James and Benjamin Britten. Readings also include selections from the most recent scholarship on magic and the supernatural. Writing assignments range from web-based projects to analytic essays. No previous experience in music is necessary. Projected guest lectures, musical performances, field trips. Limited to 36.
Staff

21L.014[J] Introduction to Ancient and Medieval Studies
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21H.007[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: M1-2.30 (66-160) Recitation: W1-2.30 (66-160)
______
Explores the fascinating history, culture, and society of the ancient and medieval worlds and the different methodologies scholars use to interpret them. Wrestles with big questions about the diversity of life and thought in pre-modern societies, the best ways to study the distant past, and the nature (and limitations) of knowledge about long-ago eras. Considers a wide range of scholarly subjects such as the rise and fall of the Roman empire, the triumph of Christianity and Islam, barbarian invasions and holy wars, courts and castles, philosophy and religion, and the diversity of art, literature, and politics. Ponders different types of evidence, reads across a variety of disciplines, and develops skills to identify continuities and changes in ancient and medieval societies.
E. Driscoll & S. Frampton
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.015 Children's Literature
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Analyzes children's literature from a variety of eras and genres, taking even the most playful texts seriously as works of art and powerful cultural influences. Considers the types of stories adults consider appropriate for children, and why; how opinions about this subject have changed over time and across cultures; and the complex interplay of words and images in children's books. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21L.016 Gods and Mortals
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces students to moral and philosophical questions that emerge from the study of pre-modern literature, such as how humans have grappled with life on earth and negotiated their relationships with the known and unknown, nature and the cosmos, past and future, the physical and the metaphysical, life and death, one another, and the divine. Focuses on careful reading of major works and authors, including selections from Sappho's lyric poems, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Virgil's Aeneid, Augustine's Confessions, and Dante's Inferno. Develops skills in close reading and in persuasive and personal analytical writing. Students have the opportunity to present on their readings and research in a variety of forms.
Staff

21L.017 The Art of the Probable
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines literary texts and/or films in relation to the history of the idea of probability. Traces the growing importance of probability as a basic property of things and the world, as well as a measure of the reliability of our ideas and beliefs. Connects the development and use of probabilistic reasoning (e.g., in the lottery and in statistics) with literary and cultural concerns regarding the rationality of belief, risk and uncertainty, free will and determinism, chance and fate. Discussion of the work of scientific and philosophical pioneers of probabilistic thought (e.g., Pascal, Leibniz, Bernoulli, Laplace) in conjunction with works by Shakespeare, Voltaire, H. G. Wells, Pynchon and Stoppard, among others. Enrollment limited.
S. Raman

21L.018 Introduction to English Literature
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the rich heritage of English literature across genre and historical period. Designed for students who want to know more about English literature or about English culture and history. Studies the relationships between literary themes, forms, and conventions and the times in which they were produced. Explores (for instance) Renaissance lyrics and drama, Enlightenment satires in word image, the 19th-century novel, and modern and contemporary stories, poems and film.
Staff

21L.019 Introduction to European and Latin American Fiction
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-019-introduction-to-european-and-latin-american-fiction/
______
Studies great works of European and Latin American fiction. Attention to a variety of forms including: the picaresque, epistolary, realist, naturalist, and magical realist fiction. Emphasizes ways in which the unique history of each country shaped the imaginative responses of its writers. Authors include Cervantes, Laclos, Goethe, Mann, Dostoevsky, Flaubert, Zola, Unamuno, Wolf, García Márquez, and Allende. Taught in English.
J. Terrones

21L.021 Comedy
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys a range of comic texts in different media, the cultures that produced them, and various theories of comedy. Authors and directors studied may include Aristophanes, Shakespeare, Moliere, Austen, Wilde and Chaplin.
Ben Mangrum

21L.024 Literature and Existentialism
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies major literary works associated with the 19th- and 20-century philosophical movement known as existentialism. Through close reading of these works, students explore how existentialist writers grappled with the question of death; the nature of free will; emotions like boredom, disgust, and radical doubt; and the fate of the individual in a modernity marked by war, illogic, and absurdity. Includes novels, short stories, and aphorisms by Sartre, Camus, Dostoevsky, Kafka, Hesse, Chopin, and Nietzsche; plays by Beckett and Stoppard; and films by Bergman, Tarkovsky, and others. Enrollment limited.
E. Brinkema

21L.025 A History of the Book from Papyrus to Pixel
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies a broad range of texts and artifacts related to the history of writing and reading across cultures. Introduces students to the history and theory of media, to literary topics such as metafiction and narratology, and to the study of rare books and distinctive collections. Readings vary but may include literary works by authors such as Miguel Cervantes, Emily Dickinson, and Italo Calvino and theoretical writing by scholars including Marshall McLuhan and Roland Barthes. Regular sessions in MIT Libraries lead to capstone research projects on objects in MIT Archives and Special Collections. Students present on their readings and research in a variety of forms.
S. Frampton

21L.032[J] Afrofuturism, Magical Realism, and Other Otherwise Worlds
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as WGS.130[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines Afrofuturism, magical realism, and other forms of the fantastic in literary texts, film, and other media. Through close reading and attention to historical, cultural, and sociopolitical context, students consider how these works reinterpret the past, diagnose modernity, and posit alternative futures. Particular attention given to the roles race, gender, class, and sexuality play within these radically imaginative worlds. Topics vary from term to term but might include work by Octavia Butler, Gabriel García Márquez, Samuel Delany, Toni Morrison, N.K. Jemisin, José María Arguedas, and Janelle Monáe. Limited to 18.
J. Terrones

21L.040[J] Foundations of East Asian Literature and Culture: From Confucius to the Beats
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21G.041[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies foundational works from East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam) with a focus on their cultural context and contemporary relevance and asks how "Literature" looks different when conceived through some of the world's oldest literatures beyond the West. Explores philosophical texts, history writing, poetry, stories and diaries, tales, and novels. Hones skills of reading, writing, and speaking with a sense of cultural sensitivity, historical depth, and comparative contemplation. Students who have taken this topic under 21L.007 cannot also receive credit for 21L.040.
W. Denecke

Samplings

21L.310 Bestsellers
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Focuses on works that caught the popular imagination in the past or present. Emphasizes texts that are related by genre, theme or style. Books studied vary from term to term. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. Confirm start and end dates on Literature website. Enrollment limited.
L. Finch

21L.315 Prizewinners and Laureates
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-315-prizewinners/
Lecture: M2.30-4 (4-144)
______
Examines particular texts and authors as having special merit and significance. Considers modern authors and filmmakers who have received such accolades as a Nobel Prize, a Pulitzer Prize, or an Oscar, as well as older authors who have been named as poets laureate, or honored by traditions of commentary, interpretation, and translation. Specific topics vary from term to term. May be repeated once for credit if the specific works studied differ. Confirm start and end dates on Literature website. Enrollment limited.
Mary Fuller
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.320 Big Books
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-320-big-books/
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR3-4.30 (4-253)
______
Intensive study of a single major literary work or a very small set of related literary works. Emphasizes texts that encourage close analysis in a way that cannot easily be integrated into the regular literature curriculum. The Big Books taught in previous terms include Moby-Dick, Canterbury Tales, and the Faerie Queene. May be repeated once for credit if the works studied differ. Confirm start and end dates on Literature website. Enrollment limited.
Fall: M. Fuller
Spring: N. Jackson
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.321[J] Childhood and Youth in French and Francophone Cultures
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.321[J])
Prereq: One intermediate subject in French
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies the transformation of childhood and youth since the 18th century in France, as well as the development of sentimentality within the family in a francophone context. Examines the personification of children, both as a source of inspiration for artistic creation and a political ideal aimed at protecting future generations. Considers various representations of childhood and youth in literature (e.g., Pagnol, Proust, Sarraute, Laye, Morgiévre), movies (e.g., Truffaut), and songs (e.g., Brel, Barbara). Taught in French.
B. Perreau

21L.323[J] French Literature and the Goncourt Prize
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 21G.323[J])
Prereq: One intermediate level subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
A study of contemporary French literature and classics through the participation in the US Goncourt Prize jury. "Le Goncourt" is the most prestigious literary prize in France. Students study and rank books from the Goncourt shortlist. Prepares students to serve as representatives of MIT on a prize jury at Villa Albertine in New York and choose the winner along with students from Princeton, Duke, Yale, Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Virginia. Students write a press article to present their experience as a jury. Special attention is devoted to the improvement of French language skills, oral and written. Taught in French. Limited to 18 for pedagogical reasons.
Staff

21L.324[J] New Culture of Gender: Queer France
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.325[J], WGS.233[J])
Prereq: One intermediate subject in French
Units: 3-0-9
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Addresses the place of contemporary queer identities in French discourse. Discusses the new generation of queer authors and their principal concerns. Introduces students to the main classical references of queer subcultures, from Proust and Vivien to Hocquenghem and Wittig. Examines current debates on post-colonial and globalized queer identities through essays, songs, movies, and novels. Authors include Didier Eribon, Anne Garréta, Abdellah Taïa, Anne Scott, and Nina Bouraoui. Taught in French.
B. Perreau

21L.325 Small Wonders
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit; first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-325-small-wonders/
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: T EVE (7-10 PM) (2-103)
______
Close examination of a coherent set of short texts and/or visual works. The selections may be the shorter works of one or more authors (poems, short stories or novellas), or short films and other visual media. Content varies from term to term. May be repeated once for credit if the works studied differ. Confirm start and end dates on Literature website.
Fall: S. Tapscott
Spring: S. Tapscott
No textbook information available

21L.338 Reading in the Original
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Close examination of literary texts in their original languages. Language and texts studied vary from term to term. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. Confirm start and end dates on Literature website.
Staff

21L.340 Pleasures of Poetry
______

Undergrad (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
______
Strengthens writing and reading comprehension skills. Students attend all public sessions of the Pleasures of Poetry readings and discussions as well as several additional classes. The poems chosen by the various moderators range across the history of literature, from ancient Chinese lyrics to contemporary texts. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Confirm start and end dates on Literature website
J. Bennett

21L.345 On the Screen
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit; first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Examines works of film, television or other screen-based media, with emphasis on texts that are related by genre, time period, style, or director. Works studied vary from term to term. May be repeated for credit once with permission of instructor. Confirm start and end dates on Literature website.
Staff

21L.350 Science and Literature
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Examines intersections and channels of influence between the sciences and forms of imaginative literature. Addresses topics such as depictions of scientific experimentation in imaginative works, the history of scientific experimentation, and experimentation in literary works; the emergence of science fiction; and depictions of scientific practice in literature. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. Confirm start and end date on Literature website.
L. Finch

21L.355 Literature in the Digital Age
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-355-literature-in-the-digital-age/
______
Examines how emerging computational methods and tools are transforming practices of reading and writing in the present. Topics may include the exploration of experimental literary forms and digital media practices (hypertext, Twitter fiction, etc.) or focus on the use of digital tools for analyzing literature (GIS mapping, data mining, etc.). May be repeated once for credit if content differs. Confirm start and end dates on Literature website.
Staff

Intermediate Subjects

Genres and Themes

21L.400 Medical Narratives: Compelling Accounts from Antiquity to Grey's Anatomy
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-400-medical-narratives-compelling-accounts-from-antiquity-to-greys-anatomy/
______
Explores fundamental questions about the experience of illness from the points of view of the patient, the physician, and the caretaker. Examines the ways in which these narratives have changed across centuries and across cultures. Asks about the physician's role in determining treatment; whether storytelling leads to more ethical life and death decisions; what special insights patient narratives provide; and what new awareness physicians derive from narrating illness. Materials include essays, fiction, poetry, memoir, blogs, film and television. As a capstone project, students develop their own medical narratives that emerge in interaction with a mentor from the greater-Boston medical community.
Staff

21L.429[J] Narrative and Identity: Writing and Film by Contemporary Women of Color
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as WGS.142[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the diverse voices and experiences reflected in writing and film by and about women of color. Examines the roles that culture, community, and kinship play in the development of the writer's individual voice, and compares the similarities and differences of the writer experience across texts and genres. Discussion and assignments, including an independent research presentation, consider the social and political contexts that inform each work, with an emphasis on gender, race, and economic status. Includes works by a variety of novelists, poets, and filmmakers.
Staff

21L.430 Popular Culture and Narrative
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with CMS.920)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-430-popular-culture-and-narrative/
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (56-167)
______
Examines relationships between popular culture and art, focusing on problems of evaluation and audience, and the uses of different media within a broader social context. Typically treats a range of narrative and dramatic works as well as films. Previously taught topics include Elements of Style; Gender, Sexuality and Popular Narrative. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Approved for credit in Women's and Gender Studies when content meets the requirements for subjects in that program. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
C. Doyle
No required or recommended textbooks

21L.431 Shakespeare on Film and Media
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-431-shakespeare-on-film-and-media/
______
Examines the adaptation, performance and interpretation of Shakespearean plays on film and video. Focus varies from term to term, to include films such as the Olivier and Almereyda versions of Hamlet and Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet; "spin-offs" such as Kurosawa's Throne of Blood and Shakespeare in Love; or theatrical videos of English language and international productions.
Staff

21L.432[J] Understanding Television
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as CMS.315[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.915)
Prereq: One subject in Literature or Comparative Media Studies
Units: 3-0-9
______
A cultural approach to television's evolution as a technology and system of representation. Considers television as a system of storytelling and mythmaking, and as a cultural practice studied from anthropological, literary, and cinematic perspectives. Focuses on prime-time commercial broadcasting, the medium's technological and economic history, and theoretical perspectives. Considerable television viewing and readings in media theory and cultural interpretation are required. Previously taught topics include American Television: A Cultural History. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

21L.433 Film Styles and Genres
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 21L.011 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Close study of one or more directors, genres, periods, artistic movements, or national cinemas which have been of major significance in the history of film. Previously taught topics include Hollywood and Hong Kong, and Movie Realists: Chaplin, Renoir, Neorealism, Truffaut. May be repeated for credit by permission of instructor.
C. Doyle

21L.434 Science Fiction and Fantasy
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Traces the history of science fiction as a generic tradition in literature, media, and popular culture. Considers formal ideological and cultural approaches to the analysis and interpretation of science fiction and fantasy texts. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs.
B. Mangrum

21L.435 Literature and Film
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with CMS.840)
Prereq: One subject in Literature or Comparative Media Studies
Units: 3-3-6
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-435-literature-and-film/
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (4-253)
______
Investigates relationships between the two media, including film adaptations as well as works linked by genre, topic, and style. Explores how artworks challenge and cross cultural, political, and aesthetic boundaries. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs.
C. Doyle
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.438[J] Intersectional Feminist Memoir
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21W.738[J], WGS.238[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (4-146)
______
Explores the memoir genre through a feminist intersectional lens, looking at the ways in which feminist writers ground personal experience within a complex understanding of race, gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity, immigration status/nationality, and dis/ablity. Gives particular attention to the relationships between the personal and the political; form and content; fact, truth, and imagination; self and community; trauma and healing; coming to voice and breaking silence. Readings include books by Audre Lorde, Janet Mock, Daisy Hernandez, Jessica Valenti, and Ariel Gore, and shorter pieces by Meena Alexander and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha. Drawing on lessons taken from these works, students write a short memoir of their own.
Fall: Brianna Williams
Spring: Brianna Williams
No textbook information available

21L.449 The Wilds of Literature
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Immerses students in literature that represents the interaction between humans and nature as joyous, sublime, revelatory, and mutually sustaining. Without denying the damage humans have wreaked on the environment, explores the role that pleasure, resilience, wonder, and hope might play in helping us to envision new modes of engagement with one another in an ever-changing environment. Students are enjoined to follow the example of authors — such as Henry David Thoreau, Annie Dillard, and Lauret Savoy — by selecting and visiting a local natural site, and writing about the experience. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs.
Staff

21L.451 Literary Theory
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-451-literary-theory/
Lecture: TR11.30-1 (5-232)
______
Examines how we read texts and the questions that we, as readers, ask of them. Introduces different critical approaches to literature by examining the relationship between readers and text, between different texts, and between text and context. Topics vary but usually include reader-response theory, structuralism and semiotics, post-structuralism and post-modernism, historicism, psychoanalysis, intertextuality, cultural criticism, and media theory.
S. Raman
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.452[J] Literature and Philosophy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 24.240[J])
Prereq: One philosophy subject
Units: 3-0-9
______
Highlights interactions between literary and philosophical texts, asking how philosophical themes can be explored in fiction, poetry, and drama. Exposes students to diverse modes of humanistic thought, interpretation, and argument, putting the tools and ideas of philosophy into conversation with those of the literary humanities. Students engage closely with selected literary and philosophical texts, explore selected topics in philosophy - such as ethics, epistemology, and aesthetics - through a literary lens, and participate in class discussion with peers and professors.  Enrollment limited.
M. Gubar, K. Setiya

Periods of World Literature

21L.455 Ancient Authors
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-455-ancient-authors/
______
Close examination of major works of classical Greek and Roman literature in translation. Topics may include epic, history, lyric poetry, or drama and the works of authors such as Thucydides, Homer, Virgil, and Cicero. Texts vary from term to term. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21L.456 The Bible: Old Testament
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces students to the three divisions of the Old Testament: Pentateuch, Prophets, Writings. Particular attention to literary techniques, the historical periods that produced and are reflected in the various books, issues resulting from translation, and the difference between Old Testament and Hebrew Bible. Students cannot also receive credit for 21L.458.
E. Driscoll

21L.457 The Bible: New Testament
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-457-the-bible-new-testament/
______
Introduces students to the genres that comprise the New Testament: gospels, history, letters, apocalypse. Particular attention to historical context, canonicity, translation, and the transformation of Hebrew Bible into Old Testament. Students cannot also receive credit for 21L.458.
Staff

21L.458 The Bible
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-458-the-bible/
______
An introduction to major books from both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. Particular attention given to literary techniques, issues resulting from translation from the original Hebrew and Greek, and the different historical periods that produced and are reflected in the Bible. Students cannot also receive credit for 21L.456 or 21L.457.
Staff

21L.460 Arthurian Literature
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Tracing the evolution of King Arthur (and principal knights), students consider what underlies the appeal of this figure whose consistent reappearance in western culture has performed the medieval prophecy that he would be rex quondam et futurus: the once and future king. Examines how Arthur's persona has been reinvented and rewritten throughout history, including portrayals as Christian hero and war-leader, ineffective king and pathetic cuckold, and as a tragic figure of noble but doomed intentions. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21L.471 Major Novels
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: One subject in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies important examples of the literary form that, from the beginning of the 18th century to the present day, has become an indispensable instrument for representing modern life, in the hands of such writers as Cervantes, Defoe, Richardson, Sterne, Burney, Austen, Scott, Dickens, the Brontes, Eliot, Balzac, Stendhal, Flaubert, Hardy, Conrad, Woolf, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Proust, and others. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
W. Denecke

21L.473[J] Jane Austen
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as WGS.240[J])
Prereq: One subject in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
______
An examination of Jane Austen's satire in her seven complete novels, several fragments, and juvenilia. Students read these texts in relation to her letters and other biographical and historical information.
R. Perry

21L.475 Enlightenment and Modernity
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: One subject in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-475-enlightenment-and-modernity/
______
Examines selected topics in 18th- and 19th-century English/European literature and culture from the restoration of the English monarchy in 1660 to the end of Queen Victoria's reign in 1901. Topics vary by term; authors may include Jonathan Swift, Laurence Sterne, William Blake, William Wordsworth, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Lewis Carroll, Oscar Wilde, and Arthur Conan Doyle, among others. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
Staff

21L.480[J] Identities and Intersections: Queer Literatures
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as WGS.245[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on LGBT literature from the mid-19 century to the present, with an emphasis on fiction and poetry. In particular, analyzes how LGBT identities and their literary representations have changed over time. Covers authors such as Walt Whitman, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Cherrie Moraga, Melvin Dixon, Leslie Feinberg, and Luis Negron.
J. Terrones

21L.481[J] HIV/AIDS in American Culture
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as WGS.250[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines cultural responses to HIV/AIDS in the US during the first fifteen years of the epidemic, prior to the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Students consider how sexuality, race, gender, class, and geography shaped the experience of HIV/AIDS and the cultural production surrounding it, as well as the legacy of this cultural production as it pertains to the communities most at risk today. Materials include mainstream press coverage, film, theater, television, popular music, comic books, literature, and visual art.
J. Terrones

21L.482[J] Topics in Queer Studies
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as WGS.260[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (56-167)
______
Develops critical understanding of queer theory through foundational and contemporary texts and other media forms. Examines relationships between queer theory and other social and cultural theories that probe and critique power, privilege, and normativity including critical race theory, transgender studies, feminist theory, and disability theory. Topics may include social movements, queer of color critiques, transnational activisms, and transgender politics. 
Arain, Hafsa
No required or recommended textbooks

21L.485 Modern Fiction
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: One subject in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-485-modern-fiction/
______
Tradition and innovation in representative fiction of the early modern period. Recurring themes include the role of the artist in the modern period; the representation of psychological and sexual experience; and the virtues (and defects) of the aggressively experimental character. Works by Conrad, Kipling, Babel, Kafka, James, Lawrence, Mann, Ford Madox Ford, Joyce, Woolf, Faulkner, and Nabokov. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs.
Staff

21L.486[J] Modern Drama
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 21T.244[J], WGS.285[J])
Prereq: One subject in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-486-modern-drama/
______
Explores major modern plays with special attention to performance, sociopolitical and aesthetic contexts, and the role of theater in the contemporary multimedial landscape. Includes analysis of class, gender, and race as modes of performance. Typically features Beckett and Brecht, as well as some of the following playwrights: Chekov, Churchill, Deavere Smith, Ibsen, Fornes, Friel, Kushner, O'Neill, Shaw, Stoppard, Soyinka, Williams, Wilson. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs.
D. Henderson

21L.487 Modern Poetry
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: One subject in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
______
Study of major poems and manifestos from the late 19th century through the early 21st century. Examines works written in English, with some attention to Modernist texts from other cultures and other languages as well. Poems by T. S. Eliot, W. C. Williams, Langston Hughes, Robert Frost, Pablo Neruda, Hilda Doolittle, Charles Baudelaire, Anna Akhmatova, Bertolt Brecht, Rabindranath Tagore, and others. Comprised primarily of discussions, short papers, and a final project. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs. 
S. Tapscott

21L.488 Contemporary Literature
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: One subject in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-488-contemporary-literature/
______
Study of key themes and techniques in prose, poetry, and drama since the 1970s. Recent topics include postmodernism, globalization, new British and Irish writing, and literature and development. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs.
Staff

21L.489[J] Interactive Narrative
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21W.765[J], CMS.618[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.845)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a workshop environment for understanding interactive narrative (print and digital) through critical writing, narrative theory, and creative practice. Covers important multisequential books, hypertexts, and interactive fictions. Students write critically, and give presentations, about specific works; write a short multisequential fiction; and develop a digital narrative system, which involves significant writing and either programming or the structuring of text. Programming ability helpful.
N. Montfort

21L.490[J] Introduction to the Classics of Russian Literature
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.077[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.618)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW EVE (7-8.30 PM) (14E-310)
______
Explores the works of classical Russian writers of the 19th and 20th centuries, including stories and novels by Pushkin, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Bunin, Nabokov, Platonov, and others. Focuses on their approaches to portraying self and society, and on literary responses to fundamental ethical and philosophical questions about justice, freedom, free will, fate, love, loyalty, betrayal, and forgiveness.  Taught in English; students interested in completing some readings and a short writing project in Russian should register for 21G.618.
M. Khotimsky
No textbook information available

21L.491[J] Gateway to Korean Literature and Culture
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.066[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-491j-gateway-to-korean-literature-and-culture/
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (66-154)
______
Introduction to two millennia of Korean literature and culture. Discusses texts, artifacts, and films in their cultural context and from a comparative global perspective. Explores poetry; historiography, story-telling, drama and fiction; philosophical and religious texts and practices; and visual materials. Includes creative exercises to help students develop their own Korean wave and K-drama passions with a critically informed eye.
Y. Noh
No textbook information available

21L.492[J] Three Kingdoms: From History to Fiction, Comic, Film, and Game
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.042[J], 21H.352[J], CMS.359[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.133)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (14E-310)
______
Analyzing core chapters of the great Chinese epic novel, Three Kingdoms, and its adaptations across diverse media, considers what underlies the appeal of this classic narrative over the centuries. Through focus on historical events in the period 206 BC to AD 280, examines the representation of power, diplomacy, war, and strategy, and explores the tension among competing models of political authority and legitimacy. Covers basic elements of classical Chinese political and philosophical thought, and literary and cultural history. Final group project involves digital humanities tools. Readings in translation. Films and video in Chinese with English subtitles.
E. Teng
No required or recommended textbooks

21L.493[J] Gateway to Japanese Literature and Culture
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.062[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.562)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-493j-gateway-to-japanese-literature-and-culture/
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (1-135)
______
Surveys the nature, history, and distinctive features of Japanese literature and cultural history from the beginnings through the threshold of modernity. Examines various genres of poetry, historiography and mythological lore, prose tales and fiction, diaries, essays, Noh and puppet plays, short stories and novels; and helps students appreciate the texts' relevance in the historical and cultural context in which authors wrote them, in the broader context of literary traditions from around the world, and for the humanistic and aesthetic powers that make them poignant to us today. Showcases how authors increasingly enjoyed adapting, redoing, and satirizing earlier models, while constantly developing new expressive forms suited to the urgent needs of their time. Includes an eco-literature lab, a creative writing lab, and a history-writing lab for collaborative experimentation.
W. Denecke
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.494[J] Classics of Chinese Literature in Translation
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.044[J], WGS.235[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.195)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to some of the major genres of traditional Chinese poetry, fiction, and drama. Intended to give students a basic understanding of the central features of traditional Chinese literary genres, as well as to introduce students to the classic works of the Chinese literary tradition. Works read include Journey to the West, Outlaws of the Margin, Dream of the Red Chamber, and the poetry of the major Tang dynasty poets. Literature read in translation. Taught in English.
W. Denecke

American Literature

21L.006 American Literature
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-006-american-literature/
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (56-169)
______
Studies the national literature of the United States since the early 19th century. Considers a range of texts - including, novels, essays, films, and electronic media - and their efforts to define the notion of American identity. Readings usually include works by such authors as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, Frederick Douglass, Emily Dickinson, Flannery O'Connor, William Faulkner, Sherman Alexie, and Toni Morrison. Enrollment limited.
L. Finch
No textbook information available

21L.500[J] How We Got to Hamilton
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21T.247[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Traces the evolution of the American musical from minstrelsy to Hamilton. Equips students with terms, tools, and techniques to enrich their analysis of how individual songs, scenes, and dances — as well as whole shows — are structured. Recovers the groundbreaking yet often forgotten or appropriated achievements of artists of color to Broadway and Hollywood musicals. Features a mix of creative and critical assignments, some of which may be linked to field trips to local theaters, dance studios, and archives. Limited to 20.
Staff

21L.501 The American Novel
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Works by major American novelists, beginning with the late 18th century and concluding with a contemporary novelist. Major emphasis on reading novels as literary texts, but attention paid to historical, intellectual, and political contexts as well. Syllabus varies from term to term, but many of the following writers are represented: Rowson, Hawthorne, Melville, Twain, Wharton, James, and Toni Morrison. Previously taught topics include The American Revolution and Makeovers (i.e. adaptations and reinterpretation of novels traditionally considered as American "Classics"). May be repeated for credit with instructor's permission so long as the content differs.
W. Kelley

21L.504[J] Race and Identity in American Literature
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as WGS.140[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-504j-race-and-identity-in-american-literature/
Lecture: T EVE (7-10 PM) (14E-310)
______
Questions posed by the literature of the Americas about the relationship of race and gender to authorship, audience, culture, ethnicity, and aesthetics. Social conditions and literary histories that shape the politics of identity in American literature. Specific focus varies each term. Previously taught topics include Immigrant Stories, African American Literature, and Asian American Literature. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if the content differs.
S. Alexandre
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.512 American Authors
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: One subject in Literature and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-512-american-authors/
Lecture: T2-5 (5-231)
______
Examines in detail the works of several American authors selected according to a theme, period, genre, or set of issues. Through close readings of poetry, novels, or plays, subject addresses such issues as literary influence, cultural diversity, and the writer's career. Previously taught topics include American Women Writers, American Autobiography, American Political Writing, and American Short Fiction. Approved for credit in Women's and Gender Studies when content meets the requirements for subjects in that program. May be repeated for credit with instructor's permission so long as the content differs.
J. Bennett
No textbook information available

International Literatures

21L.007 World Literatures
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-007-world-literatures/
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (56-167)
______
Introduces students to a coherent set of textual and visual materials drawn from different geographical regions, languages, artistic genres, and historical periods. The focus may vary but usually cuts across national boundaries. Includes non-English works read in translation and examines different kinds of writing, both fiction and nonfiction. Pays special attention to such issues as identity formation, cultural contact, exploration, and exile. Previously taught topics include contemporary writing from Africa and South Asia, the impact of the discovery of the New World, and Caribbean literature.  May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs. Enrollment limited.
L. Finch
No textbook information available

21L.020[J] Globalization: The Good, the Bad and the In-Between
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as WGS.145[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the cultural paradoxes of contemporary globalization. Studies the cultural, artistic, social and political impact of globalization across international borders. Students analyze contending definitions of globalization and principal agents of change, and why some of them engender backlash; identify the agents, costs and benefits of global networks; and explore how world citizens preserve cultural specificity. Case studies on global health, human trafficking and labor migration illuminate the shaping influence of contemporary globalization on gender, race, ethnicity, and class. Develops cultural literacy through analysis of fiction and film. Enrollment limited.
M. Resnick

21L.522[J] International Women's Voices
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.022[J], WGS.141[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-048j-international-womens-voices/
______
Introduces students to a variety of fictional works by contemporary women writers. International perspective emphasizes the extent to which each author's work reflects her distinct cultural heritage and to what extent, if any, there is an identifiable female voice that transcends national boundaries. Uses a variety of interpretive perspectives, including sociohistorical, psychoanalytic, and feminist criticism, to examine texts. Authors include Mariama Ba, Isabel Allende, Anita Desai, Maxine Hong Kingston, Toni Morrison, Doris Lessing, Alifa Riyaat, Yang Jiang, Nawal Al-Saadawi, and Sawako Ariyoshi. Taught in English.
Staff

21L.580 Translations
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Students study theories of translation, compare examples of multiple renderings of the same work, and work on translation projects. Supplementary assignments focus on adaptation of works from one genre to another, and on transmission of information from one mode to another (visual to verbal changes, American Sign Language, etc.). Students write essays about relative theories of translation and about comparisons of variant versions, and also work on translation projects of their own in workshop-format. Includes texts such as the King James Bible, and writers such as Walter Benjamin, George Steiner, Wislawa Szymborska, Czeslaw Milosz, Pablo Neruda, Gabriela Mistral, Rainer Maria Rilke, William Gass, and Robert Pinsky. Limited to 18.
Staff

21L.590[J] The Spanish Incubator
______

Undergrad (IAP) HASS Elective
(Same subject as 21G.073[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-3
______
Students travel to Spain to explore the country's influence on our understanding of contemporary culture, from its role as the crucible of the international avant-garde, to its genesis of political art and writing, to its Civil War that ignited the artistic passion of authors around the world, to the exuberant liberation after 40 years of dictatorship. Readings include Hemingway, Lorca, Orwell, Neruda, memoirs of Americans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, Spanish poetry of the war and repression that followed, and the films of Saura and Almodovar. Films, readings, field trips to museums, and cultural events enable students to understand the full context in which today's vibrant Spanish democracy emerged. Contact Literature about travel fee and possible funding opportunities. Enrollment limited. Application required; contact Literature Headquarters for details.
M. Resnick
No textbook information available

21L.591 Literary London
______

Undergrad (IAP) HASS Elective
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-3
URL: IAP URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-591-literary-london/
______
Based in London, explores the specific locations, history and artistic institutions that have made London a world cultural hub, deepening students' knowledge gained on site through guided readings, theater performances, visits to homes associated with major authors, guest experts, and independent "author mapping" projects with reports back to the class. Sharpens students' understanding of the complexities of international exchange and identity formation in a global age. Contact Literature about travel fee and possible funding opportunities. Enrollment limited. Application required; contact Literature Headquarters for details.
D. Henderson
Textbooks (IAP 2025)

21L.592[J] Race, Place, and Modernity in the Americas
______

Undergrad (IAP) HASS Elective
(Same subject as 11.047[J], 21W.781[J], WGS.247[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-3
______
Students travel to São Paulo for three weeks. Examines the relationship between race and place in the formation of modern Brazil and the US through comparative analysis and interdisciplinary study. In addition to participating in class discussions on literature, film, and visual art, students visit key cultural and historical sites; interact with archives and museum collections; and, most importantly, engage in dialogue with local activists, religious leaders, community organizers, and scholars. Focusing on the work of Black and Indigenous people, particularly women, places a strong emphasis on the ways in which art and cultural activism can have an impact on racial justice issues. Taught in English; no Portuguese needed. Contact Women's and Gender Studies about travel fee, possible funding opportunities, and other details. Enrollment limited to 20. Application required.
J. Terrones
No textbook information available

21L.601[J] Old English and Beowulf
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 24.916[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Intensive introduction to Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon), the ancestor of modern English that was spoken in England ca. 600-1100. In the first half of the term, students use short prose texts to study the basics of Old English grammar. They go on to read short poems, and conclude by tackling portions of the epic Beowulf in the last third of the term. Assessment based upon translation work, daily vocabulary quizzes, and three exams. Limited to 16.
A. Bahr

21L.607 Greek I
______

Undergrad (Fall); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
______
Introduces rudiments of ancient Greek - the language of Plato, Sophocles, Thucydides, and Euclid, and the basis for that of the New Testament - to students with little or no prior knowledge of the subject. Aimed at laying a foundation to begin reading ancient and/or medieval texts. Greek I and Greek II may be combined (after completion of both) to count as a single HASS-H. Limited to 20.
E. Driscoll

21L.608 Greek II
______

Undergrad (Fall); second half of term
Prereq: 21L.607 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
______
Introductory Greek subject for students with some prior knowledge of basic grammar and vocabulary. Intended to refresh and enrich ability to read ancient and/or medieval literary and historical texts. May be taken independently of Greek I with permission of instructor. Greek I and Greek II may be combined (after completion of both) to count as a single HASS-H. Limited to 20.
E. Driscoll

21L.609 Greek Readings
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit; first half of term
Prereq: 21L.608 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-609-greek-readings/
Consult professor Ends Mar 21. Lecture: MW11-12.30 (4-251)
______
Introduction to reading ancient Greek literature in the original language. Provides a bridge between the study of Greek grammar and the reading of Greek authors. Improves knowledge of the language through careful examination of literary texts, both prose and poetry. Builds proficiency in reading Greek and develops appreciation for basic features of style and genre. Texts vary from term to term. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. 21L.609 and 21L.610, or two terms of 21L.609, may be combined by petition (after completion of both) to count as a single HASS-H.
E. Driscoll
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.610 Advanced Greek Readings
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Prereq: 21L.609 or (placement exam and permission of instructor)
Units: 2-0-4
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-610-advanced-greek-readings/
Consult professor Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW11-12.30 (4-251)
______
Building on 21L.609, develops the ability to read and analyze ancient Greek literary texts, both prose and poetry. Focuses on increasing fluency in reading comprehension and recognition of stylistic, generic, and grammatical features. Texts vary from term to term. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. 21L.610 and 21L.609, or two terms of 21L.610, may be combined by petition (after completion of both) to count as a single HASS-H.
E. Driscoll
No required or recommended textbooks

21L.611 Latin I
______

Undergrad (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-611-latin-i/
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: MW9.30-11 (4-251)
______
Introduces rudiments of Latin to students with little or no prior knowledge of the subject. Aimed at laying a foundation to begin reading ancient and/or medieval literary and historical texts. Latin I and Latin II may be combined by petition (after completion of both) to count as a single HASS-H. Limited to 20.
S. Frampton
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.612 Latin II
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 21L.611 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-612-latin-ii/
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW9.30-11 (4-251) +final
______
Introductory Latin subject for students with some prior knowledge of basic grammar and vocabulary. Intended to refresh and enrich ability to read ancient and/or medieval literary and historical texts. May be taken independently of Latin I with permission of instructor. Latin I and Latin II may be combined by petition (after completion of both) to count as a single HASS-H. Limited to 20.
S. Frampton
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.613 Latin Readings
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit; first half of term
Prereq: 21L.611 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Introduction to reading Latin literature in the original language. Provides a bridge between the study of Latin grammar and the reading of Latin authors. Improves knowledge of the language through careful examination of literary texts, focusing on prose and poetry in alternate years. Builds proficiency in reading Latin and develops appreciation for basic features of style and genre. Texts vary from term to term. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. 21L.613 and 21L.614, or two terms of 21L.613, may be combined by petition (after completion of both) to count as a single HASS-H.
S. Frampton

21L.614 Advanced Latin Readings
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit; first half of term
Prereq: 21L.613 or (placement exam and permission of instructor)
Units: 2-0-4
______
Building on 21L.613, develops the ability to read and analyze Latin literary texts, focusing on prose and poetry in alternate years. Increases fluency in reading comprehension and recognition of stylistic, generic, and grammatical features. Texts vary from term to term. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. 21L.613 and 21L.614, or two terms of 21L.614, may be combined by petition (after completion of both) to count as a single HASS-H.
S. Frampton

21L.620[J] Introduction to French Literature
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.320[J])
Prereq: 21G.304 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://languages.mit.edu/semesters/french-francophone-studies-spring-2023/
______
A basic study of major French literary genres — poetry, drama, and fiction — and an introduction to methods of literary analysis. Authors include: Voltaire, Balzac, Sand, Baudelaire, Apollinaire, Camus, Sartre, Ionesco, Duras, and Tournier. Special attention devoted to the improvement of French language skills. Taught in French.
B. Perreau

21L.621[J] French Feminist Literature: Yesterday and Today
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.344[J], WGS.321[J])
Prereq: One intermediate subject in French or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores feminist literary voices in France throughout the ages. Discusses the theory that the power of feminist writing lies in its ability to translate dominant language into a language of one's own. Studies lifestyles, family norms, political representation, social movements, as well as the perception of the body. Investigates how feminist genealogies redefine the relationship between belonging and knowledge through a dialogue between several generations of women writers. Taught in French. Limited to 18.
B. Perreau

21L.636[J] Introduction to Contemporary Hispanic Literature and Film
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.716[J])
Prereq: One intermediate subject in Spanish or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-636j-introduction-to-contemporary-hispanic-literature-and-film/
Lecture: W EVE (7-10 PM) (2-103)
______
Focuses on literary and cinematic production in 20th- and 21st-century Spain and Latin America with a particular emphasis on how social, cultural, political, and technological changes led to aesthetic innovations. Topics include the literature of politics, the avant-garde and subsequent literary boom, the radical aesthetic of the post-Franco era, and post-modern film and art. Materials include short stories, novels, poetry, song, and film. Conducted in Spanish.
J. Terrones
No textbook information available

21L.637[J] Power and Culture: Utopias and Dystopias in Spain and Latin America
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.717[J])
Prereq: One intermediate subject in Spanish or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies how new literary, artistic and musical forms have emerged in response to tensions and contradictions in Hispanic culture, from the eighth century to the present. Examines distinctively Hispanic artistic movements and modes from Al-Andalus' vibrant heterogeneity to the enforced homogeneity of the Spanish Inquisition; from a rich plurality of pre-Colombian civilizations to the imposed conversions by conquistadors; from the revolutionary zeal of Latin America's liberators to the crushing dictatorships that followed; from the promise of globalization to the struggle against US cultural imperialism. Taught in Spanish. Limited to 18.
Staff

21L.638[J] Literature and Social Conflict: Perspectives on the Hispanic World
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.738[J])
Prereq: One intermediate subject in Spanish or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-638j-literature-and-social-conflict-perspectives-on-the-hispanic-world/
______
Considers how major literary texts illuminate principal issues in the evolution of modern Spanish society. Emphasizes the treatment of such major questions as the exile of liberals in 1820, the concept of progress, the place of religion, urbanization, rural conservatism and changing gender roles, and the Spanish Civil War. Authors include Perez Galdos, Pardo Bazan, Unamuno, Ortega y Gasset, Salinas, Lorca, La Pasionaria, and Falcon. Taught in Spanish.
J. Terrones

21L.639[J] Globalization and its Discontents: Spanish-speaking Nations
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.739[J])
Prereq: One intermediate subject in Spanish or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies new paradigms of cultural exchange that have shaped Latin America in the 20th and 21st centuries. Examines how globalization is rapidly changing the identity of peoples and cultures in Spanish-speaking nations. Spotlights debates about human rights. Materials studied include film, fiction, essay, architectural archives, music and art. Students complete a research project about a specific aspect of Hispanic culture that has been shaped by contemporary forces in the global economy. Taught in Spanish with required readings and writing in Spanish.
Joaquin Terrones

Seminars

21L.640[J] The New Spain: 1977-Present
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.740[J])
Prereq: One intermediate subject in Spanish or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-640j-the-new-spain-1977-present/
______
Deals with the vast changes in Spanish social, political and cultural life that have taken place since the death of Franco. Topics include new freedom from censorship, the re-emergence of strong movements for regional autonomy (the Basque region and Catalonia), the new cinema including Almodovar and Saura, educational reforms instituted by the socialist government, and the fiction of Carme Riera and Terenci Moix. Special emphasis on the emergence of mass media as a vehicle for expression in Spain. Considers the changes wrought by Spain's acceptance into the European Community. Materials include magazines, newspapers, films, fiction, and Amando de Miguel's Los Españoles. Taught in Spanish.
M. Resnick

21L.701 Literary Methods
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Two subjects in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-701-literary-methods/
______
Introduces practice and theory of literary criticism. Seminar focuses on topics such as the history of critical methods and techniques, and the continuity of certain subjects in literary history. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication. Previously taught topics include Virginia Woolf's Shakespeare, Theory and Use of Figurative Language, and Text, Context, Subtext, Pretext. Approved for credit in the Women's and Gender Studies when content meets requirements for subjects in that program. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs. Limited to 12.
Milan Terlunen

21L.702 Studies in Fiction
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Two subjects in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-702-studies-in-fiction/
______
Intensive study of a range of texts by a single author or by a limited group of authors whose achievements are mutually illuminating. Some attention to narrative theory and biographical and cultural backgrounds. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication. Previously taught topics include Stowe, Twain, and the Transformation of 19th-century America, and Joyce and the Legacy of Modernism. Approved for credit in Women's and Gender Studies when content meets the requirements for subjects in that program. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs. Limited to 12.
Fall: S. Alexandre
Spring: J. Terrones

21L.703[J] Studies in Drama
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 21T.246[J])
Prereq: Two subjects in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-703-studies-in-drama/
Lecture: TR3-4.30 (14N-325)
______
Intensive study of an important topic or period in drama. Close analysis of major plays, enriched by critical readings and attention to historical and theatrical contexts. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication through student presentations and research essays. Previously taught topics include: Renaissance Drama; Shakespeare with his Contemporaries; Oscar Wilde; and Stoppard and Company. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs. Limited to 12.
D. Henderson
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.704 Studies in Poetry
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Two subjects in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
______
Intensive study of a body of poetry, raising questions of form, authorship, poetic influence, social context, and literary tradition. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication. Previously taught topics include: Does poetry Matter?, Poetry and the Science of Mind; Songs, Sonnets and the Story of English; Virgil, Spenser, Milton; and The Image: Poetry, Photography, and Technologies of Vision. Approved for credit in Women's and Gender Studies when content meets the requirements for subjects in that program. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs. Limited to 12.
J. Bennett

21L.705 Major Authors
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Two subjects in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-705-major-authors/
Lecture: TR EVE (7-8.30 PM) (4-146)
______
Close study of a limited group of writers. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication. Previously taught topics include John Milton and his Age, Chaucer, Herman Melville, Toni Morrison, and Oscar Wilde and the '90s. Approved for credit in Women's and Gender Studies when content meets the requirements for subjects in that program. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs. Limited to 12.
J. Buzard
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.706 Studies in Film
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with CMS.830)
Prereq: (21L.011 and one subject in Literature or Comparative Media Studies) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-706-studies-in-film/
Lecture: M1-4 (4-253) Lab: M EVE (7-10 PM) (4-270)
______
Intensive study of films from particular periods, genres, or directors, or films focusing on specific formal or theoretical problems. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Previous topics include The Contemporary Horror Film, Film Remixes, Film Narrative, Heroic Cinema, Color in Film and Hitchcock. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs. Limited to 12.
Fall: E. Brinkema
Spring: J. Ruffin
No textbook information available

21L.707 Problems in Cultural Interpretation
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Two subjects in Literature or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-707-problems-in-cultural-interpretation/
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (4-253)
______
Studies the relation between imaginative texts and the culture surrounding them. Emphasizes ways in which imaginative works absorb, reflect, and conflict with reigning attitudes and world views. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication. Previously taught topics include Women Reading/Women Writing; Poetry, Passion, and the Self; and Race, Religion and Identity in Early Modern America. Approved for credit in Women's and Gender Studies when content meets the requirements for subjects in that program. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs. Limited to 12.
B. Mangrum
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.709 Studies in Literary History
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Two subjects in Literature or History
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-709-studies-in-literary-history/
______
Close examination of the literature of a particular historical period. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication. Syllabi vary. Previous topics include Britons Abroad in the 18th Century; Modernism: From Nietzsche to Fellini; and Make it New: Manifestos and the Invention of the Modern. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs. Limited to 12.
Staff

21L.715 Media in Cultural Context
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with CMS.871)
Prereq: Two subjects in Literature or Comparative Media Studies or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-715-media-in-cultural-context/
______
Seminar uses case studies to examine specific media or media configurations and the larger social, cultural, economic, political, or technological contexts within which they operate. Organized around recurring themes in media history, as well as specific genres, movements, media, or historical moments. Previously taught topics include Gendered Genres: Horror and Maternal Melodramas; Comics, Cartoons, and Graphic Storytelling; and Exploring Children's Culture. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Approved for credit in Women's and Gender Studies when content meets the requirements for subjects in that program. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs. Limited to 12.
Staff

21L.720 Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-720-chaucers-canterbury-tales/
______
Intensive study of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, with particular attention to formal analysis and cultural context. Students work closely with the linguistic nuances of Chaucer's Middle English, and examine scholarly research in the fields of both literary and medieval studies. Limited to 12.
A. Bahr

Special Subjects, Research, and Thesis

21L.900 Independent Study
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Open to qualified students who wish to pursue an independent study with members of the Literature faculty. Normal maximum is 6 units, though exceptional 9-unit projects are occasionally approved. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
Fall: Stephanie Frampton
Spring: F. Crisley
No textbook information available

21L.901 Independent Study
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Open to qualified students who wish to pursue an independent study with members of the Literature faculty. Normal maximum is 6 units, though exceptional 9-unit projects are occasionally approved. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
Staff

21L.902 Topics in Ancient and Medieval Studies: Greek
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 21L.610 or permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Covers topics in Greek classes that are not provided in the regular subject offerings. Units vary depending on the number of class meetings, readings, and assignments. May be repeated for credit if topic differs.
E. Driscoll

21L.S60[J] Special Subject: Rap Theory and Practice
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as CMS.S60[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.S96)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W2-5 (1-150)
______
To gain a deeper understanding of rap, students engage in the full process of creating rap music, including composing lyrics, recording, performing, and creating an EP length album. Existing rap music is studied, selected lyrics are analyzed, and possible reasons for the structure and success of different songs are presented in case studies. Students analyze rap songs, reflect on their own weekly activities in writing and present their work in class by playing recordings, performing and responding to each other in workshop discussions. Licensed for Fall 2024 by the Committee on Curricula. Limited to 10.
W. Jaco
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21L.S88 Special Subject in Literature
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Covers topics in Literature that are not provided in the regular subject offerings. Units vary depending on the number of class meetings, readings and assignments. May be repeated for credit if the subjects are different.
S. Frampton

21L.S89 Special Subject in Literature
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (2-103)
______
Covers topics in Literature that are not provided in the regular subject offerings. Units vary depending on the number of class meetings, readings and assignments. May be repeated for credit if the subjects are different.
Fall: S. Frampton
Spring: A. Bahr
No textbook information available

21L.S90 Special Subject in Literature
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Covers topics in Literature that are not provided in the regular subject offerings. Units vary depending on the number of class meetings, readings and assignments. May be repeated for credit if the subjects are different.
Frampton, S.
No textbook information available

21L.S91 Special Subject in Literature
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers topics in Literature that are not provided in the regular subject offerings. Units vary depending on the number of class meetings, readings and assignments. May be repeated for credit if the subjects are different.
Staff

21L.S92 Special Subject in Literature
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers topics in Literature that are not provided in the regular subject offerings. Units vary depending on the number of class meetings, readings and assignments. May be repeated for credit if the subjects are different.
Staff

21L.S93 Special Subject in Literature
______

Undergrad (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Covers topics in Literature that are not provided in the regular subject offerings. Units vary depending on the number of class meetings, readings and assignments. May be repeated for credit if the subjects are different.
Staff

21L.S94 Special Subject in Literature
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Covers topics in Literature that are not provided in the regular subject offerings. Units vary depending on the number of class meetings, readings and assignments. May be repeated for credit if the subjects are different.
Staff

21L.S95 Special Subject in Literature
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers topics in Literature that are not provided in the regular subject offerings. Units vary depending on the number of class meetings, readings and assignments. May be repeated for credit if the subjects are different.
Staff

21L.S96 Special Subject in Film and Media
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Two subjects in Film and Media and permission of the director of Comparative Media Studies
Units arranged
______
Open to qualified students who wish to pursue special projects with film and media studies faculty. Individual or small group projects encouraged. Usually limited to 6 credits. May be repeated for credit with additional permission of the instructor.
L. Fiasco

21L.S97 Special Subject in Film and Media
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Two subjects in Film and Media and permission of director of Comparative Media Studies
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Open to qualified students who wish to pursue special projects with film and media studies faculty. Individual or small group projects encouraged. Usually limited to 6 credits. May be repeated for credit with additional permission of the instructor.
Staff

21L.THT Literature Pre-Thesis Tutorial
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-5
______
Definition of and early-stage work on thesis project leading to 21L.THU. Taken during the first term of the student's two-term commitment to the thesis project. Student works closely with an individual faculty tutor. Required for students in Course 21L when the thesis is a degree requirement.
W. Denecke

21L.THU Literature Thesis
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 21L.THT
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Completion of work on the senior major thesis under supervision of a faculty tutor. Includes oral presentation of thesis progress early in the term, assembling and revising the final text, and meeting at the close with a committee of faculty evaluators to discuss the successes and limitations of the project. Required for students in Course 21L when the thesis is a degree requirement.
Fall: F. Crisley
Spring: J. Bennett
Textbooks arranged individually

21L.UR Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Individual participation in an ongoing research project. For students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
Fall: F. Crisley
IAP: F. Crisley
Spring: F. Crisley
No required or recommended textbooks (IAP 2025); Textbooks arranged individually (Spring 2025)

21L.URG Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Individual participation in an ongoing research project. For students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
F. Crisley
Textbooks arranged individually

For individual research in Literature, register for 21L.UR or 21L.URG. For Literature pre-thesis tutorial, register for 21L.THT. For undergraduate thesis, register for 21L.THU.


left arrow | 21L.00-21L.URG | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 21M: Music
IAP/Spring 2025


The Music subjects described below are grouped within seven areas: Introductory, Samplings, History/Culture, Composition/Theory, Performance, Advanced/Special Subjects, and Music and Media.

Although most students start with introductory subjects, those who have vocal or instrumental training or extensive exposure to music are encouraged to begin at a higher starting level.

Introductory Subjects

21M.011 Introduction to Western Music
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
URL: http://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: W3.30-5 (4-270) Recitation: MF3 (4-364) or TR1 (4-152) or TR3 (4-152)
______
Provides a broad overview of Western music from the Middle Ages to the 21st century, with emphasis on late baroque, classical, romantic, and modernist styles. Designed to enhance the musical experience by developing listening skills and an understanding of diverse forms and genres. Major composers and works placed in social and cultural contexts. Weekly lectures feature demonstrations by professional performers and introduce topics to be discussed in sections. Enrollment limited.
Fall: T. Neff, M. Goetjen
Spring: E. Pollock, M. Goetjen
No required or recommended textbooks

21M.013[J] The Supernatural in Music, Literature and Culture
______

Undergrad (Fall) Arts + Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21L.013[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the relationship between music and the supernatural, focusing on the social history and context of supernatural beliefs as reflected in key literary and musical works from 1600 to the present. Provides an understanding of the place of ambiguity and the role of interpretation in culture, science and art. Explores great works of art by Shakespeare, Verdi, Goethe (in translation), Gounod, Henry James and Benjamin Britten. Readings also include selections from the most recent scholarship on magic and the supernatural. Writing assignments range from web-based projects to analytic essays. No previous experience in music is necessary. Projected guest lectures, musical performances, field trips. Limited to 36.
Staff

21M.030 Introduction to Musics of the World
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (4-158) or MW11-12.30 (4-158) or TR9.30-11 (4-364)
______
An introduction to diverse musical traditions of the world. Music from a wide range of geographical areas is studied in terms of structure, performance practice, social use, aesthetics, and cross-cultural contact. Includes music making, live demonstrations by guest artists, and ethnographic research projects. Enrollment limited by lottery.
Fall: J. Maurer, P. Tang
Spring: J. Maurer, P. Tang
No required or recommended textbooks

21M.051 Fundamentals of Music
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-7
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (4-158) or TR2-3.30 (4-364) or TR3.30-5 (4-364) Lab: F1 (4-270)
______
Introduces students to the rudiments of Western music through oral, aural, and written practice utilizing rhythm, melody, intervals, scales, chords, and western staff notation. Individual skills are addressed through a variety of approaches, including the required piano and sight singing labs. Intended for students with little to no prior experience reading music or performing. Not open to students who have completed 21M.150, 21M.151, 21M.301, 21M.302, or are proficient in reading music. Limited to 18 per section.
Fall: S. Iker
Spring: L. Tilley, D. David, G. Saraydarian
No textbook information available

21M.053 Rhythms of the World
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: http://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: TR2-3.30 (4-162)
______
Experiential, fully-embodied exploration into the fundamentals of music through the lens of largely non-Western, aural music cultures. From Bali to Ghana, Cuba to India, Zimbabwe to Andalucía, and through popular musics across the globe, students think about, talk about, and make music in new ways. Examines some of the basic concepts of music — structure, melody-making, meter, rhythm, interaction, movement, etc. — studying their diverse incarnations in different music cultures and encouraging a breadth of perspective and engagement. Students engage with a diverse blend of musical practices through music-making, in-depth discussion, listening and analysis, and creative composition. No musical experience required. Limited to 18.
L. Tilley
No textbook information available

21M.065 Introduction to Musical Composition
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Through a progressive series of composition projects, students investigate the sonic organization of musical works and performances, focusing on fundamental questions of unity and variety. Aesthetic issues are considered in the pragmatic context of the instructions that composers provide to achieve a desired musical result, whether these instructions are notated in prose, as graphic images, or in symbolic notation. Weekly listening, reading, and composition assignments draw on a broad range of musical styles and intellectual traditions, from various cultures and historical periods. Basic music reading skills required.  Limited to 18.
Staff

21M.080 Introduction to Music Technology
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with 21M.560)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW12.30-2 (W18-1311)
______
Investigates how technology is used in the analysis, modeling, synthesis and composition of music, and its contribution to the artistic production practice. With an eye towards historical context as well as modern usage, topics include the physics of sound, digital representations of music, the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), analog and digital synthesis techniques, MIDI and sequencing, electronic instrument design, notation software, generative music systems, and computational analysis of music. Weekly assignments focus on both theory and practice, requiring technical proficiency, creative output, and aesthetic consideration. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Enrollment limited.
Fall: I. Hattwick
Spring: I. Hattwick
No textbook information available

Samplings

Students may combine any of the 6-unit subjects listed below for 12 units (one full subject) of credit toward the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) General Institute Requirement (GIR). Even-numbered subjects are offered the first half of term; odd-numbered subjects are offered the second half of term. Where noted, subjects may be repeated for 12 units of HASS GIR credit. See the HASS Requirement website for details.

21M.120 Tuning Systems and Temperament
______

Undergrad (Spring); first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Surveys selected tunings of the scale, including Pythagorean, just intonation, mean-tone, and equal temperaments, as well as non-Western systems and the impact of tunings and temperaments on musical composition and performance. Student projects will be based on live demonstrations as well as reading and listening assignments.
T. Neff

21M.128 Moments in Music: History/Culture A
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit; first half of term
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR12.30-2 (4-364)
______
Examines a particular moment in music history, an era, style, or even the composition of a major work through analysis and cultural context. Goes into further depth on a particular topic than would be possible in a longer survey. Periods and topics vary. Examples include minimalism, The Beatles, A Cappella, or The Lion King. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. Enrollment limited.
E. Ziporyn
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21M.129 Moments in Music: History/Culture B
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR12.30-2 (4-364)
______
Examines a particular moment in music history, an era, style, or even the composition of a major work through analysis and cultural context. Goes into further depth on a particular topic than would be possible in a longer survey. Periods and topics vary. Examples include minimalism, The Beatles, A Cappella, or The Lion King. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. Enrollment limited.
E. Ziporyn
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21M.138 Moments in Music: Composition A
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit; first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Practice in a particular compositional technique not normally covered in the Harmony and Counterpoint or Musical Composition sequences. Possible topics include Renaissance counterpoint, fugue, ragtime, or indeterminacy. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21M.139 Moments in Music: Composition B
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR2-3.30 (4-158)
______
Practice in a particular compositional technique not normally covered in the Harmony and Counterpoint or Musical Composition sequences. Possible topics include Renaissance counterpoint, fugue, ragtime, or indeterminacy. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. Enrollment limited.
Fall: G. Saraydarian
Spring: G. Saraydarian
No textbook information available

21M.150 Accelerated Fundamentals of Music
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 1-1-4
Credit cannot also be received for 21M.151
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR2-3.30 (4-158)
______
Accelerated half-semester study of the fundamentals of Western music. Requires ability to read Western staff notation in at least one clef. Coverage includes intervals, triads, major and minor keys, basic musical analysis over a variety of idioms in Western music. Also emphasizes developing the ear, voice, and keyboard skills. Not open to students who have completed or are enrolled in 21M.051, 21M.151, 21M.301, or 21M.302. Subject content is identical to 21M.151: 21M.150 is offered first half of term; 21M.151 is offered second half of term or during IAP. Limited to 18 per section.
Fall: G. Saraydarian
Spring: G. Saraydarian
No textbook information available

21M.151 Accelerated Fundamentals of Music
______

Undergrad (Fall); second half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-1-4
Credit cannot also be received for 21M.150
______
Accelerated half-semester study of the fundamentals of Western music. Requires ability to read Western staff notation in at least one clef. Coverage includes intervals, triads, major and minor keys, basic musical analysis over a variety of idioms in Western music. Also emphasizes developing the ear, voice, and keyboard skills. Not open to students who have completed or are enrolled in 21M.051, 21M.151, 21M.301 or 21M.302. Subject content is identical to 21M.150: 21M.150 is offered first half of term; 21M.151 is offered second half of term or during IAP. Limited to 18 per section.
Staff

21M.158 Moments in Music: Theory and Analysis A
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit; first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Specific musical compositions or topics in music theory will provide the basis for analysis and close reading. Topics vary. Examples include a Bach Cantana, a Beethoven Quartet, Pierrot Lunaire, or cross-cultural musical analysis. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21M.159 Moments in Music: Theory and Analysis B
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Specific musical compositions or topics in music theory will provide the basis for analysis and close reading. Topics vary. Examples include a Bach Cantana, a Beethoven Quartet, Pierrot Lunaire, or cross-cultural musical analysis. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. Enrollment limited.
Staff

History/Culture

21M.215 Music of the Americas
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: MW12.30-2 (4-162)
______
A survey of the music of North and South America from the Renaissance to the present, with emphasis on the cross-fertilizations of indigenous and European traditions. Listening assignments will focus on composers as varied as Copland and Still, Revueltas and Chihara.
C. Shadle
No textbook information available

21M.220 Medieval and Renaissance Music
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None. Coreq: 21M.301
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines European, Mediterranean basin, and Latin American music in the ancient world, Middle Ages, and the Renaissance (to 1630). Interweaves a chronological survey with the intensive study of three topics, which are usually chant and its development, music in Italy 1340-1420, and music in Elizabethan England. Focuses on methods and pitfalls in studying music of the distant past. Students work with original sources and facsimiles in crafting research papers, presentation, and assignments.
J. Jones

21M.223 Folk Music of the British Isles and North America
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the production, transmission, preservation and the qualities of folk music in the British Isles and North America from the 18th century to the folk revival of the 1960s and the present. Special emphasis on balladry, fiddle styles, and African-American influences. Enrollment limited.
J. Maurer

21M.226 Jazz
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: http://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: R10-1 (38-166)
______
Historical survey from roots in African and American contexts, including spirituals, blues, and ragtime, through early jazz, Swing, bebop, and post-bop movements, with attention to recent developments. Key jazz styles, the relation of music and society, and major figures such as Armstrong, Ellington, Basie, Goodman, Parker, Monk, Mingus, Coltrane, and others are considered. Some investigation of cross-influences with popular, classical, folk, and rock musics. Enrollment may be limited.
P. Kenagy
No textbook information available

21M.235 Baroque and Classical Music
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: 21M.301 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW12.30-2 (4-158)
______
Surveys genres from the Western tradition composed in the 17th and 18th centuries: opera, cantata, oratorio, sonata, concerto, quartet and symphony. Includes the composers Monteverdi, Purcell, Lully, Strozzi, Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Haydn, Bologne, and Mozart. Bases written essays, projects, and oral presentations on live performances as well as listening and reading assignments. Basic music score-reading ability required.
T.Neff
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21M.250 Nineteenth-Century Music
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: 21M.301 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: MW3.30-5 (4-158)
______
Surveys 19th century Western concert music including Lied/song, choral music, opera, piano sonata/character piece, concerto, and symphony/symphonic poem. Includes the composers Beethoven, Schubert, Berlioz, Chopin, Farrenc, Brahms, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Beach, Smyth, and Mahler. Bases written work and oral presentations on live performances as well as listening and reading assignments. Basic score-reading ability recommended.
T. Neff
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21M.260 Music since 1900
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: 21M.301 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys musical works drawn from many genres, representing stylistic movements that have transformed classical music over the past hundred years. Focal topics include musical modernism, serialism, neoclassicism, nationalism and ideology, minimalism, and aleatoric and noise composition experiments. Discusses electronic and computer music, and new media and the postmodern present. Begins with Stravinsky's early ballets and ends with music by current MIT composers and other important figures active today. Ability to read music required. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided.
Staff

21M.269 Studies in Western Music History
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 21M.301 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (4-158)
______
Explores particular questions or repertories in Western classical music. Requires individual participation, presentations, and writing. Topics vary each year. Examples include women in music, musical borrowing, the Ars Nova, Schumann, or music after 1990. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
Fall: S. Iker
Spring: M. Marks
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21M.271 Symphony and Concerto
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the style, form, and history of approximately two dozen pieces of canonical symphonic repertoire. Students write short reviews of musicological articles on the rich cultural history of selected works and complete one project about classical music in contemporary society. Basic score-reading ability required.
Staff

21M.273 Opera
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on the different styles and dramatic approaches exhibited by a range of operas. Important themes include dramatic and musical conventions, processes of adaptation, cultural and critical questions, and staging as a type of interpretation. Basic score-reading ability required.
E. Pollock

21M.283 Musicals
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: One subject in film, music, or theater or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers select Broadway stage works and Hollywood films in depth. Proceeds chronologically within four historical categories: breakthrough musicals of the 1920s and '30s; classic "book musicals" of the '40s and '50s; modernist and concept musicals of the '60s and '70s; and postmodern and cutting-edge works of the '80s and '90s. Recent musicals also explored.  Attention given to the role of music in relation to script, characterization, and dramatic structure. Papers involve comparison of at least one stage and one film work, selected in consultation with the instructor. Oral presentations required and in-class performances encouraged.
M. Marks

21M.284 Film Music
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with CMS.925)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a conceptual foundation and methodology for the study of music created for various types of (mainly) narrative films, from the medium's origins in the early twentieth century to the present. Close attention to select influential scores by composers active in Hollywood from the 1940s to the 1990s (e.g., Max Steiner, Bernard Herrmann, Quincy Jones, John Williams, Philip Glass). Those works are juxtaposed with landmarks of alternative film and musical styles from other countries and centers of production. Subsidiary topics include the history and challenges of live musical accompaniment to silent films, and the evolution of recording and sound-editing technologies from the studio era to the global present. Students taking the graduate version complete different assignments. Some background in the study of film and/or music is desirable, but not a prerequisite.
M. Marks

21M.285 The Beatles
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: 21M.301 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys the music of the Beatles, from the band's early years as the Quarrymen (1956-1960), through the rise of "Beatlemania" in the 1960s, and the break-up of the group with the turn of 1970. Listening and reading assignments focus on the construction and analysis of selected songs with the goal of mapping how the Beatles' musical style changed from skiffle and rock to studio-based experimentation and the concept album. Discussions include the cultural influences that helped shape not only the music, but also the image of the group and its individual members, as well as the Beatles' influence on both popular music and culture worldwide. Limited to 21.
Staff

21M.289 Studies in Western Classical Genres
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 21M.301 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores topics concerned with specific types of classical music, such as repertories for instrumental soloists and/or small ensembles, orchestral works, solo songs, choral works, or compositions for theater, film, or new media. Topics vary and may require additional prerequisites or specialized skills such as score-reading or playing an instrument. Examples include the English madrigal, Baroque chamber music, Beethoven's symphonies, French art song, Wagner's 'Ring' cycle, American choral music, Stravinsky's theater works, and the Hollywood film score. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
Staff

21M.291 Music of India
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on Hindustani classical music of North India, and also involves learning about the ancient foundations of the rich classical traditions of music and dance of all Indian art and culture. Practice of the ragas and talas through the learning of songs, dance, and drumming compositions. Develops insights through listening, readings, and concert attendance.
Staff

21M.292 Musics in Bali
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies diverse musical practices in Bali, Indonesia. Students encounter a broad spectrum of Balinese musics — from ancient ritual and court musics to popular genres, internationally renowned gamelan traditions to radical contemporary and fusion compositions — engaging with their structures and techniques through music-making, listening analysis, music theory, composition, and dance. Explores the cultural, political, social, and historical contexts of these musics, grappling with complex questions of identity, representation, power, and belief through readings and discussion forums, creative open-ended projects, and in-depth class discussion. No musical experience required. Limited to 15.
L. Tilley

21M.293 Musics of Africa
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (W18-1202)
______
Studies musical traditions of sub-Saharan Africa, with focus on West Africa. Explores a variety of musical practices and their cultural contexts through listening, reading and writing assignments with an emphasis on class discussion. Includes in-class instruction in drumming, song and dance of Senegal, Ghana, and South Africa, as well as live lecture-demonstrations by guest performers from throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Limited to 15; preference to majors, minors, concentrators. Admittance may be controlled by lottery.
P. Tang
No textbook information available

21M.294 Popular Musics of the World
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines select popular music genres from around the world through audio-visual materials, reading assignments, and classroom discussion. Considers issues of globalization, appropriation, and the impact of social media. Case studies include bhangra, Latin pop, Afropop, reggae, Kpop, and global hip-hop. Limited to 25; preference to Music majors, minors, concentrators. Admittance may be controlled by lottery.
E. Ziporyn

21M.295 American Popular Music
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (4-364)
______
Surveys the development of popular music in the US, and in a cross-cultural milieu, relative to the history and sociology of the last two hundred years. Examines the mixture that characterizes modern music, and how it reflects many rich traditions and styles (minstrelsy, Tin Pan Alley, blues, country, rock, soul, rap, techno, etc.). Provides a background for understanding the musical vocabulary of current popular music styles. Limited to 20.
W. Marshall
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21M.296 Studies in Jazz and Popular Music
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies of selected topics in popular music and/or jazz.  Topics vary.  Examples include Duke Ellington, Bob Dylan, hip-hop, and the 1980s.  May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
W. Marshall

21M.297[J] Cultures of Popular Music in East Asia: Japan, Korea, China
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.095[J], WGS.150[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.595)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores a variety of music cultures in contemporary East Asia. Emphasizes examples from Japan, but forays elsewhere, including South Korea and China. Uses writings, videos, and recordings of musical performances, events, and objects in a variety of contexts to better understand how the concept of culture gives insight into gender, class, sexuality, race, ethnicity, nationhood, and individual identities. Explores ethnographic approaches to musical cultures with a focus on the last thirty years. Topics include Japanese hip-hop, K-Pop idols, Vocaloids (virtual idols), Chinese popular music and protest, street music, streaming and online distribution for global music, and experimental music. Students conduct ethnographic fieldwork and produce sonic presentations. No music experience nor technical expertise required. Taught in English.
I. Condry

21M.299 Studies in Global Musics
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 21M.030 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: MW2-3.30 (4-158)
______
Studies of selected topics in ethnomusicology (the study of music in culture). Topics vary. Examples include the social lives of musical instruments, music and storytelling, fieldwork methodologies, music and politics, and theories of global musics. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
J. Maurer
No required or recommended textbooks

Composition/Theory

21M.301 Harmony and Counterpoint I
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with 21M.541)
Prereq: 21M.051, 21M.151, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (4-162) or MW2-3.30 (4-162) or TR11-12.30 (4-162) Lab: F2 (4-270)
______
Explores Western diatonic music through regular composition and analysis assignments. Engages a broad range of historical periods, traditions, and individuals. Topics include rhythm and meter, harmony and counterpoint within a single key, and a brief overview of form and modulation. Individual skills are addressed through a variety of approaches, including the required piano and sight singing labs. Local musicians perform final composition projects. Students should be proficient in reading Western staff notation in at least one clef and have experience with key signatures and scales. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 18 per section.
Fall: E. Ruehr, D. David
Spring: E. Ruehr, w. Cutter, D. David
No textbook information available

21M.302 Harmony and Counterpoint II
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: 21M.301 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-2-7
URL: http://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (4-152) or TR12.30-2 (4-158) Lab: R4 (4-152) or F4 (4-162)
______
A continuation of 21M.301, including chromatic harmony and modulation, a more extensive composition project, keyboard laboratory, and musicianship laboratory. Limited to 20 per section.
Fall: W. Cutter, D. Derek
Spring: S. Iker, G. Saraydarian
No textbook information available

21M.303 Writing in Tonal Forms I
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: 21M.302
Units: 3-1-8
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Written and analytic exercises based on 18th- and 19th-century small forms and harmonic practice found in music such as the chorale preludes of Bach; minuets and trios of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven; and the songs and character pieces of Schubert and Schumann. Musicianship laboratory is required. Limited to 20 per section.
C. Shadle

21M.304 Writing in Tonal Forms II
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: 21M.303
Units: 3-1-8
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: MW3.30-5 (4-162) Lab: R4 (4-152) or F4 (4-162)
______
Further written and analytic exercises in tonal music, focusing on larger or more challenging forms. For example, students might compose a sonata-form movement for piano or a two-part invention in the style of Bach. Students have opportunities to write short works that experiment with the expanded tonal techniques of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Musicianship laboratory is required. Limited to 20.
C. Shadle, G. Saraydarian
No textbook information available

21M.310 Techniques of 20th-Century Composition
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: 21M.302 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Students complete written and analytical exercises based on compositional forms and practices from the first half of the 20th century. Areas covered include compositions based upon artificial scales and modes, as in Debussy, Bartok, and Stravinsky; compositions based on atonal pitch organizations, as with Schoenberg and Webern; compositions based on rhythmic process, timbral exploration, and/or non-Western influences. Basic instrumentation will be taught, and compositions will be performed in class.
C. Shadle

21M.340 Jazz Harmony and Arranging
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: 21M.051, 21M.226, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: http://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (4-162)
______
Basic harmony and theory of mainstream jazz and blues; includes required listening in jazz, writing and analysis work, and two full-scale arrangements. Serves as preparation for more advanced work in jazz with application to rock and pop music. Performance of student arrangements. Limited to 15.
Fall: L. Haruvi
Spring: L. Haruvi
No textbook information available

21M.341 Jazz Composition
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: 21M.226, 21M.340, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (4-162)
______
Jazz writing using tonal, modal, and extended compositional approaches as applied to the blues, the 32-bar song form, and post-bop structural designs. Consideration given to a variety of styles and to the ways improvisation informs the compositional process. Study of works by Ellington, Mingus, Parker, Russell, Golson, Coleman, Coltrane, Hancock, Tyner, Davis, and others. Performance of student compositions. Limited to 15.
L. Haruvi
No textbook information available

21M.342 Composing for Jazz Orchestra
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
______
Explores composition and arrangement for the large jazz ensembles from 1920s foundations to current postmodern practice. Consideration given to a variety of styles and to the interaction of improvisation and composition. Study of works by Basie, Ellington, Evans, Gillespie, Golson, Mingus, Morris, Nelson, Williams, and others. Open rehearsals, workshops, and performances of student compositions by the MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble and the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra. Limited to 15.
Staff

21M.351 Music Composition
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.505)
Prereq: 21M.304, 21M.310, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: M2-5 (4-152)
______
Directed composition of original writing involving voices and/or instruments. Includes a weekly seminar in composition for the presentation and discussion of work in progress. Students are expected to produce at least one substantive work that will be performed in public by the end of the term. Contemporary compositions and major works from 20th-century music literature are studied. Students taking the graduate version complete different assignments.
C. Shadle
No textbook information available

21M.355 Musical Improvisation
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W12.30-3.30 (14W-111)
______
Students study concepts and practice techniques of improvisation in solo and ensemble contexts. Centered on the jazz tradition, examines relationships between improvisation, composition, and performance, utilizing both mainstream and experimental approaches. Students are expected to perform in class on a regular basis. Involves extensive listening and analysis. Music reading skills are required, as is intermediate instrumental or vocal proficiency. Enrollment limited to 15; open by audition to instrumental or vocal performers.
M. Zenon
No textbook information available

21M.359 Studies in Musical Composition, Theory and Analysis
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 21M.051 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores techniques associated with musical composition and/or analysis. Written exercises in the form of music (composition) and/or prose (papers) may be required, depending on the topic. Topics vary each year; examples include fugue, contemporary aesthetics of composition, orchestration, music analysis, or music and mathematics. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Limited to 18.
L. Jaye

Music Technology

21M.361 Electronic Music Composition I
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with 21M.561)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-1-9
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (W18-1311) or TR3.30-5 (W18-1311)
______
Students develop basic skills in composition through weekly assignments focusing on sampling and audio processing. Source materials include samples of urban/natural environments, electronically generated sounds, inherent studio/recording noise, and pre-existing recordings. Audio processing includes digital signal processing (DSP) and analog devices. Covers compositional techniques, including mixing, algorithms, studio improvisation, and interaction. Students critique each other's work and give informal presentations on recordings drawn from sound art, experimental electronica, conventional and non-conventional classical electronic works, and popular music. Covers technology, math, and acoustics in varying detail. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Limited to 15 per section; ; preference to Music Technology graduate students, Music majors, minors, and concentrators.
Fall: I. Hattwick
Spring: P. Whincop
No textbook information available

21M.362 Electronic Music Composition II
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with 21M.562)
Prereq: 21M.361 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-2-8
______
Explores sophisticated synthesis techniques, from finely tuned additive to noise filtering and distortion, granular synthesis to vintage emulation. Incorporates production techniques and use of multimedia, with guest lecturers/performers. Considers composing environments such as Max/MSP/Jitter, SPEAR, SoundHack, and Mathematica. Assignments include diverse listening sessions, followed by oral or written presentations, weekly sound studies, critiques, and modular compositions/soundscapes. Prior significant computer music experience preferred. Consult instructor for technical requirements. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Limited to 10.
P. Whincop

21M.365[J] DJ History, Technique, and Technology
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
(Same subject as CMS.303[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.803)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (E15-318)
______
Students explore a chosen contemporary or historical dance scene from around the world. Lectures examine the evolution of the craft and technologies of the DJ. Presents foundational practices of live DJ mixing; practice equipment is accessible to teams of students. Assignments include writing a report analyzing a book on DJ history or technique, producing a complete mix, and participation in an end-of-term performance. No prior experience is necessary, but students must sustain interest in some form of popular dance music, broadly defined. Graduate students complete additional assignments. Limited to 24.
Fall: P. Tan
Spring: P. Tan
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21M.369 Studies in Music Technology
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.569)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (W18-1311)
______
Explores various technologies in relation to musical analysis, composition, performance, culture, and quantitative methods. Topics vary each term and may include development and impact on society, generative and algorithmic music, recording techniques or procedural sound design. May involve hands-on components such as laptop music ensemble, new instrument building, or comparing the theory and practice of audio recording. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Limited to 16.
Fall: A. Huang
Spring: M. Rau
No textbook information available

21M.370 Digital Instrument Design
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with 21M.570)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-6-3
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: MW3.30-5 (W18-1311)
______
Covers aesthetic and technical challenges in the creation of physical interfaces for musical performance. will engage in the design and creation of musical interfaces, and learn how to incorporate new technologies in their artistic practice. Topics covered include user experience design for artistic performance, musical human-computer interaction (HCI), hardware and software standards for digital musical systems, embedded programming and sound synthesis, analog and digital sensors, rapid prototyping and digital manufacturing, and creating performance practices around custom hardware. Students design and build their own digital musical instrument, and present a performance with the instrument as their final project. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Limited to 18.
I. Hattwick
No textbook information available

21M.383 Computational Music Theory and Analysis
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with 21M.583)
Prereq: 6.1010 and (21M.301 or 21M.302)
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
______
Covers major approaches to analyzing musical scores using computers. Topics include AI/machine learning of style, musical similarity, encoding, music composition, music perception, and big data repertory studies. Programming assignments given in Python. Culminates in an original final project. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Enrollment limited.
J. VanderStel

21M.385[J] Interactive Music Systems
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 6.4550[J])
(Subject meets with 21M.585)
Prereq: (6.1010 and 21M.301) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: http://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (4-270)
______
Explores audio synthesis, musical structure, human computer interaction (HCI), and visual presentation for the creation of interactive musical experiences. Topics include audio synthesis; mixing and looping; MIDI sequencing; generative composition; motion sensors; music games; and graphics for UI, visualization, and aesthetics. Includes weekly programming assignments in python. Teams build an original, dynamic, and engaging interactive music system for their final project. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Limited to 36.
Fall: E. Egozy
Spring: S.Russell
No textbook information available

21M.387[J] Fundamentals of Music Processing
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 6.3020[J])
(Subject meets with 21M.587)
Prereq: 6.3000 and 21M.051
Units: 3-0-9
______
Analyzes recorded music in digital audio form using advanced signal processing and optimization techniques to understand higher-level musical meaning. Covers fundamental tools like windowing, feature extraction, discrete and short-time Fourier transforms, chromagrams, and onset detection. Addresses analysis methods including dynamic time warping, dynamic programming, self-similarity matrices, and matrix factorization. Explores a variety of applications, such as event classification, audio alignment, chord recognition, structural analysis, tempo and beat tracking, content-based audio retrieval, and audio decomposition. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
E. Egozy

Performance

Students may combine or repeat any of the 6-unit subjects listed below for 12 units (one full subject) of credit toward the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) General Institute Requirement (GIR). See the HASS Requirement website for details.

21M.401 MIT Concert Choir
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 0-4-2
URL: http://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Go to mta.mit.edu for. Audition information . Practice room reservation via. Lecture: MW EVE (7-9.30 PM) (W18-1102)
______
Rehearsals and performance of primarily large-scale works for chorus, soloists, and orchestra--from the Passions and Masses of J. S. Bach to oratorios of our own time. Open to graduate and undergraduate students by audition.
Fall: R. Turner
Spring: R. Turner
No textbook information available

21M.405 MIT Chamber Chorus
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (W18-1102)
______
Rehearsal and performance of choral repertoire for small chorus, involving literature from the Renaissance to contemporary periods. Limited to 32 by audition.
Fall: R. Turner
Spring: R. Turner
No textbook information available

21M.410 Vocal Repertoire and Performance
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.515)
Prereq: None. Coreq: Participation in ensemble for vocalists
Units: 3-0-3
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (W18-4311)
______
For the singer and/or pianist interested in collaborative study of solo vocal performance. Historical study of the repertoire includes listening assignments of representative French, German, Italian, and English works as sung by noted vocal artists of the genre. Topics include diction as facilitated by the study of the International Phonetic Alphabet; performance and audition techniques; and study of body awareness and alignment through the Alexander Technique and yoga. Admission by audition; Emerson Vocal Scholars contact department.
R. Turner
No textbook information available

21M.421 MIT Symphony
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 0-4-2
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Go to mta.mit.edu for. Audition information . Practice room reservation via. Lecture: TR EVE (7.30-10 PM) (KRESGE)
______
Rehearsals prepare works for concerts and recordings. Analyses of musical style, structure, and performance practice are integrated into rehearsals as a means of enriching musical conception and the approach to performance. Likewise, additional scores of particular structural or stylistic interest are read whenever time permits. Admission by audition.
Fall: A. Boyles
Spring: A. Boyles
No textbook information available

21M.423 Conducting and Score-Reading
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 21M.302 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
______
Introduces ensemble conducting as a technical and artistic discipline. Incorporates ear training, score-reading skills and analysis, rehearsal technique, and studies of various philosophies. Attendance of rehearsals and specific concerts required. Opportunities include conducting students, professional musicians, and MIT Symphony Orchestra (when possible). Instrumental proficiency required, although vocalists with keyboard abilities will be accepted. May be repeated once for credit with permission of instructor.
A. Boyles

21M.426 MIT Wind Ensemble
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 0-4-2
URL: http://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Go to mta.mit.edu for. Audition information . Practice room reservation via. Lecture: MW EVE (7-9.30 PM) (KRESGE)
______
Designed for advanced instrumentalists who are committed to the analysis, performance, and recording of woodwind, brass, and percussion literature from the Renaissance through the 21st century. The repertoire consists primarily of music for small and large wind ensembles. May include ensemble music from Gabrieli to Grainger, Schuller, Mozart, Dvorak, and various mixed media including strings. Performance of newly commissioned works. Opportunities for solo work and work with recognized professional artists and composers. Admission by audition.
Fall: F. Harris
Spring: F. Harris
No textbook information available

21M.442 MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 0-4-2
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Go to mta.mit.edu for. Audition information . Practice room reservation via. Lecture: TR EVE (5-7 PM) (14W-111)
______
Designed for instrumentalists dedicated to the analysis, performance, and recording of traditional and contemporary jazz ensemble compositions. Instrumentation includes saxophones, trumpets, trombones, piano, guitar or vibraphone, bass, percussion and occasionally french horn, double reeds, and strings. Provides opportunities to work with professional jazz artists and perform commissioned works by recognized jazz composers. Experience in improvisation preferred but not required. Admission by audition.
Fall: F. Harris
Spring: F. Harris
No textbook information available

21M.443 MIT Vocal Jazz Ensemble
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 0-4-2
Lecture: TBA
______
A performance ensemble for vocalists dedicated to studying traditional and contemporary vocal jazz compositions. Primarily ensemble repertoire ranging from a cappella to full big band accompaniment. Opportunities for solo performances, student-driven arrangements, and to work with professional jazz artists. Practical sight-reading skills required; experience in improvisation preferred. Admission by audition.
Fall: L. Jaye
Spring: L. Jaye
No textbook information available

21M.445 Chamber Music Society
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 0-4-2
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Go to mta.mit.edu for. Audition information. Practice room reservation. Via mta. Lecture: TBA
______
Study of chamber music literature through analysis, rehearsal, and performance. Weekly seminars and coaching. Open to string, piano, brass, woodwind players, and singers. Admission by audition.
Fall: N. Lin Douglas, M. Thompson, J. Rife, F. Harris, L. Jaye, A. Kaumeheiwa
Spring: N. Lin Douglas, J. Rife, F. Harris, M. Kim, L. Jaye, A. Kaumeheiwa, M. Thompson,
No textbook information available

21M.450 MIT Balinese Gamelan
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 0-3-3
Lecture: W EVE (7-10 PM) (W18-1202)
______
A performing ensemble dedicated to the traditional music of Bali. Members of the ensemble study structures and techniques used on various gamelan instruments — such as gangsa (ancient bronze metallophones), suling (Balinese bamboo flute), reyong (bronze pots), gongs, and drums — and learn to perform gamelan pieces. Culminates in a performance. No previous experience required.
Fall: G. Komin
Spring: G. Komin
No textbook information available

21M.451 Collaborative Piano
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.514)
Prereq: None
Units arranged
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Practice room reservation via. Lecture: TBA
______
Open by audition to pianists, instrumentalists and singers who wish to explore and develop their talents as collaborative musicians. Students are paired based on availability and receive weekly coachings by appointment. Students practice independently, rehearse with their collaborator, attend their collaborator's lessons as needed, and perform at a juried recital at the end of the term. Students may register for 3 units for a smaller-scale assignment or 6 units for a larger-scale assignment or two small assignments. May satisfy the ensemble requirement for pianists and instrumentalists in the Emerson/Harris program at the discretion of the instructor. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
Fall: M. Kim
Spring: M. Kim
No textbook information available

21M.460 MIT Senegalese Drum Ensemble
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 0-3-3
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Go to mta.mit.edu for. Audition information. Lecture: M EVE (8.30-10 PM),T EVE (7-8. (W18-1202) or MR EVE (7-8.30 PM) (W18-1202)
______
A performance ensemble focusing on the sabar drumming tradition of Senegal, West Africa. Study and rehearse Senegalese drumming techniques and spoken word. Perform in conjunction with MIT Rambax drumming group. No previous experience necessary, but prior enrollment in 21M.030 or 21M.293 strongly recommended. Limited to 30 by audition.
Fall: L. Toure
Spring: L. Toure
No textbook information available

21M.470 MIT Laptop Ensemble
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.517)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
Lecture: W EVE (7-10 PM) (14W-111)
______
The MIT Laptop Ensemble is a forum for the exploration of emerging digital musical practices, giving ensemble members hands-on experience with compositional and performance strategies based on current research. Concerts by the ensemble include repertoire drawn both from historical electronic and computer music compositions, as well as new compositions by invited composers. Also includes opportunities for ensemble members to compose for and conduct the ensemble. Weekly rehearsals focus on concepts drawn from a variety of 20th- and 21st-century practices, including experimental and improvised music, telematic performance, gestural controllers, multimedia performance, live coding, and interactive music systems. No previous experience required. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Admission by audition.
Fall: I. Hattwick
Spring: I. Hattwick
No textbook information available

21M.475 Music Performance
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.511)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-2-3
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
TBA.
______
Designed for students who demonstrate considerable technical and musical skills and who wish to develop them through intensive private study. Students must take a weekly lesson, attend a regular performance seminar, participate in a departmental performing group, and participate in a group recital at the end of each term. Full-year commitment required. Information about lesson fees, scholarships, and auditions available in Music Section Office. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Admission by audition for Emerson/Harris Program.
Fall: M. Kim, M. Thompson, M. Zenon
Spring: N. Douglas, M. Kim, F. Harris, M. Zenon
No textbook information available

21M.480 Advanced Music Performance
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.512)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-2-6
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Practice room reservation via. Lecture: M EVE (5-7 PM) (14W-111) or W EVE (5-7 PM) (W18-4305)
______
Designed for students who demonstrate considerable technical and musical skills and who wish to develop them through intensive private study. Students must take a weekly lesson, attend a regular performance seminar, and participate in a departmental performing group, and present a 50-minute solo recital at the end of the Spring term. Full-year commitment required. Information about lesson fees, scholarships, and auditions available in Music Section Office. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Admission by audition for the Emerson/Harris Program.
Fall: M. Kim, M. Thompson, M. Zenon
Spring: N. Lin Douglas, M. Kim, M. Zenon, M. Thompson
No textbook information available

21M.490 Solo Recital
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.525)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-2-6
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
TBA.
______
Solo 50-minute recital prepared with a private teacher and approved by the Emerson Private Studies Committee based on evidence of readiness shown in the Fall Term performances. See Music and Theater Arts website for application deadlines and conditions. Restricted to Emerson Scholars.
N. Douglas, M. Kim, R. Turner, F. Harris, M. Thompson
No textbook information available

Advanced/Special Subjects

21M.500 Advanced Seminar in Music
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Seminar that develops analytic and research skills in music history/culture or theory/composition. Topics vary, but are organized around a particular methodology, musical topic, or collection of works, that allow for application to a variety of interests and genres. Strong emphasis on student presentations, discussion, and a substantial writing project. May be repeated for credit with permission from instructor.
T. Neff

21M.505 Music Composition
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.351)
Prereq: 21M.304, 21M.310, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://mta.mit.edu/music/class-schedule
Lecture: M2-5 (4-152)
______
Directed composition of original writing involving voices and/or instruments. Includes a weekly seminar in composition for the presentation and discussion of work in progress. Students are expected to produce at least one substantive work that will be performed in public by the end of the term. Contemporary compositions and major works from 20th-century music literature are studied. Students taking the graduate version complete different assignments.
K. Makan
No textbook information available

21M.511 Music Performance
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.475)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-2-3
TBA.
______
Designed for students who demonstrate considerable technical and musical skills and who wish to develop them through intensive private study. Students must take a weekly lesson, attend a regular performance seminar, participate in a departmental performing group, and present a 50-minute solo recital at the end of the Spring term. Full-year commitment required. Information about lesson fees, scholarships, and auditions available in Music Section Office. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Admission by audition for Emerson/Harris Program.
Fall: M. Kim, M. Thompson, M. Zenon
Spring: N. Douglas, M. Kim, M. Zenon, M. Thompson
No textbook information available

21M.512 Advanced Music Performance
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.480)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-2-6
Lecture: M EVE (5-7 PM) (14W-111) or W EVE (5-7 PM) (W18-4305)
______
Designed for students who demonstrate considerable technical and musical skills and who wish to develop them through intensive private study. Students must take a weekly lesson, attend a regular performance seminar, and participate in a departmental performing group, and present a 50-minute solo recital at the end of the Spring term. Full-year commitment required. Information about lesson fees, scholarships, and auditions available in Music Section Office. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Admission by audition for the Emerson/Harris Program.
Fall: M. Kim, M. Thompson, M. Zenon
Spring: N. Douglas, M. Kim, M. Zenon, M. Thompson
No textbook information available

21M.514 Collaborative Piano
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.451)
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Open by audition to pianists, instrumentalists and singers who wish to explore and develop their talents as collaborative musicians. Students are paired based on availability and receive weekly coachings by appointment. Students practice independently, rehearse with their collaborator, attend their collaborator's lessons as needed, and perform at a juried recital at the end of the term. Students may register for 3 units for a smaller-scale assignment or 6 units for a larger-scale assignment or two small assignments. May satisfy the ensemble requirement for pianists and instrumentalists the Emerson/Harris program at the discretion of the instructor. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
Staff
No textbook information available

21M.515 Vocal Repertoire and Performance
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.410)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (W18-4311)
______
For the singer and/or pianist interested in collaborative study of solo vocal performance. Historical study of the repertoire includes listening assignments of representative French, German, Italian, and English works as sung by noted vocal artists of the genre. Topics include diction as facilitated by the study of the International Phonetic Alphabet; performance and audition techniques; and study of body awareness and alignment through the Alexander Technique and yoga. Admission by audition. Emerson Vocal Scholars contact department.
R. Turner
No textbook information available

21M.517 MIT Laptop Ensemble
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.470)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
Lecture: W EVE (7-10 PM) (14W-111)
______
The MIT Laptop Ensemble is a forum for the exploration of emerging digital musical practices, giving ensemble members hands-on experience with compositional and performance strategies based on current research. Concerts by the ensemble include repertoire drawn both from historical electronic and computer music compositions, as well as new compositions by invited composers. Also includes opportunities for ensemble members to compose for and conduct the ensemble. Weekly rehearsals focus on concepts drawn from a variety of 20th- and 21st-century practices, including experimental and improvised music, telematic performance, gestural controllers, multimedia performance, live coding, and interactive music systems. No previous experience required. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Admission by audition.
Staff
No textbook information available

21M.525 Solo Recital
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.490)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-2-6
TBA.
______
Emerson Scholars may receive credit for a solo spring recital that has been prepared with and approved by the private teacher and the Emerson Private Studies Committee. Approval based on evidence of readiness shown in first term master classes. Restricted to Emerson Scholars.
N. Lin Douglas, M. Thompson, F. Harris
No textbook information available

21M.531 Independent Study in Music
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
21M.531: TBA.
______
Open to qualified students who wish to pursue independent studies or projects with members of the Music Section. Projects require prior approval by the Music and Theater Arts Chair.
Fall: E. Pollock
IAP: E. Pollock
Spring: E. Pollock
Summer: C. Shadle
21M.531: No required or recommended textbooks
21M.533: No required or recommended textbooks

21M.533 Independent Study in Music
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
21M.531: TBA.
______
Open to qualified students who wish to pursue independent studies or projects with members of the Music Section. Projects require prior approval by the Music and Theater Arts Chair.
Fall: M. Marks
IAP: M. Marks
21M.531: No required or recommended textbooks
21M.533: No required or recommended textbooks

21M.540 Thinking about Music
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Seminar focusing on developing skills needed to navigate graduate research projects in music. Topics include how to engage with primary and secondary sources, library and archival (real and virtual) collections, and research bibliographies. Emphasizes working with diverse materials, and viewpoints.  Ambiguity, uncertainty, and unsolved (and often unsolvable) questions in music research are emphasized. Includes brief overviews of major periods and works of Western Classical music and significant components and differences among three non-Western/non-Classical repertories.
Staff

21M.541 Harmony and Counterpoint I with Computational Applications
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21M.301)
Prereq: None. Coreq: 21M.565 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
______
Explores Western diatonic music through regular composition and analysis assignments. Engages a broad range of historical periods, traditions, and individuals. Topics include rhythm and meter, harmony and counterpoint within a single key, and a brief overview of form and modulation. Individual skills are addressed through a variety of approaches, including the required piano and sight singing labs. Local musicians perform final composition projects. Students should be proficient in reading Western staff notation in at least one clef and have experience with key signatures and scales. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 18 per section.
Staff
No textbook information available

21M.560 Introduction to Music Technology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with 21M.080)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW12.30-2 (W18-1311)
______
Investigates how technology is used in the analysis, modeling, synthesis and composition of music, and its contribution to the artistic production practice. With an eye towards historical context as well as modern usage, topics include the physics of sound, digital representations of music, the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), analog and digital synthesis techniques, MIDI and sequencing, electronic instrument design, notation software, generative music systems, and computational analysis of music. Weekly assignments focus on both theory and practice, requiring technical proficiency, creative output, and aesthetic consideration. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Enrollment limited.
Staff
No textbook information available

21M.561 Electronic Music Composition I
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with 21M.361)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-1-9
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (W18-1311) or TR3.30-5 (W18-1311)
______
Students develop basic skills in composition through weekly assignments focusing on sampling and audio processing. Source materials include samples of urban/natural environments, electronically generated sounds, inherent studio/recording noise, and pre-existing recordings. Audio processing includes digital signal processing (DSP) and analog devices. Covers compositional techniques, including mixing, algorithms, studio improvisation, and interaction. Students critique each other's work and give informal presentations on recordings drawn from sound art, experimental electronica, conventional and non-conventional classical electronic works, and popular music. Covers technology, math, and acoustics in varying detail. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Limited to 15 per section; preference to Music Technology graduate students, Music majors, minors, and concentrators.
Staff
No textbook information available

21M.562 Electronic Music Composition II
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21M.362)
Prereq: 21M.361, 21M.561, or permission of instructor
Units: 2-2-8
______
Explores sophisticated synthesis techniques, from finely tuned additive to noise filtering and distortion, granular synthesis to vintage emulation. Incorporates production techniques and use of multimedia, with guest lecturers/performers. Considers composing environments such as Max/MSP/Jitter, SPEAR, SoundHack, and Mathematica. Assignments include diverse listening sessions, followed by oral or written presentations, weekly sound studies, critiques, and modular compositions/soundscapes. Prior significant computer music experience preferred. Consult instructor for technical requirements. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Limited to 10.
Staff

21M.S53, 21M.S54 Special Subject in Music
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
21M.S53: Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR3.30-5 (W18-1102)
21M.S54: Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR3.30-5 (W18-1102)
______
Study of musical topics not covered in the regular subject listings, particularly experimental subjects offered by permanent or visiting faculty.
Fall: A. Boyles
Spring: A. Boyles
21M.S53: No textbook information available
21M.S54: No textbook information available

21M.S55 Special Subject in Music
(New)
______

Undergrad (IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Study of musical topics not covered in the regular subject listings, particularly experimental subjects offered by permanent or visiting faculty.
Staff
No textbook information available

21M.S56 Special Subject in Music
(New)
______

Undergrad (IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Study of musical topics not covered in the regular subject listings, particularly experimental subjects offered by permanent or visiting faculty.
Staff
No textbook information available

Music and Media

21M.565 Programming for Music
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-2-8
______
Introduction to programming skills needed for conducting research in music and music technology. Students develop skills to solve problems using python in music theory, history, performance, and technology and to compose using algorithms and data structures. Covers fundamental aspects of both computer science and software engineering as applied to music, including abstraction, data types, testing and debugging, time complexity, and recursion. Relies on students' prior experience with research methods in music and musical creativity to answer otherwise under-defined problems.  Culminates in an individual programming project.
Staff

21M.569 Studies in Music Technology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21M.369)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (W18-1311)
______
Explores various technologies in relation to musical analysis, composition, performance, culture, and quantitative methods. Topics vary each term and may include development and impact on society, generative and algorithmic music, recording techniques or procedural sound design. May involve hands-on components such as laptop music ensemble, new instrument building, or comparing the theory and practice of audio recording. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Limited to 16.
Fall: A.Huang
Spring: M.Rau
No textbook information available

21M.570 Digital Instrument Design
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 21M.370)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-6-3
Lecture: MW3.30-5 (W18-1311)
______
Covers aesthetic and technical challenges in the creation of physical interfaces for musical performance. will engage in the design and creation of musical interfaces, and learn how to incorporate new technologies in their artistic practice. Topics covered include user experience design for artistic performance, musical human-computer interaction (HCI), hardware and software standards for digital musical systems, embedded programming and sound synthesis, analog and digital sensors, rapid prototyping and digital manufacturing, and creating performance practices around custom hardware. Students design and build their own digital musical instrument, and present a performance with the instrument as their final project. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Limited to 18.
Staff
No textbook information available

21M.572 Overview of Music Perception and Cognition
______

Graduate (Fall); first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-2
______
An overview of perceptual and biological structures of musical and auditory cognition with applications to music research. Differences between acoustical/technological and perceptual interpretations of sound and music are emphasized. Topics include musical memory and anticipation, emotion and psychological functions, and theories of music's origins and functions. Covers ethical and practical considerations of human subject research in music perception and important conclusions from the field. Not open to students who have taken HST.723 or HST.725.
Staff

21M.573 Overview of Acoustics and the Physics of Sound
______

Graduate (Fall); second half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 21M.572 or permission of instructor
Units: 1-1-2
______
An overview of the physics of wave propagation, absorption, and reflection in sound. Topics include harmonic motion, standing waves in one to three dimensions, interference and distortion, loudness, electro-acoustical modeling, microphones and loudspeakers, and physical models of musical instruments. Laboratory time is spent in measuring and modeling local acoustical spaces, instruments, and sound production. Not open to students who have taken 2.066.
Staff

21M.574 Overview of Musical Software and Formats
______

Graduate (Fall); first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None. Coreq: 21M.565 or permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-3
______
An overview of the practical side of working with music software and formats for research in music technology. Covers audio editing, notation software, and sound/signal tools primarily using open-source examples. Topics include: compression/codecs, command-line and batch operations for automation; translation among formats, differences among and between audio and symbolic formats (including wav, mp3, MIDI, MusicXML, and historic formats).
Staff

21M.576 Overview of Mathematics for Music Applications
______

Graduate (Fall); first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None. Coreq: 21M.565 or permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-3
______
Overview of mathematical tools and their use in music research. Topics include linear algebra and matrices, applications of complex numbers and trigonometric functions, exponentials, summation functions, logarithmic domains, function composition, probability (including Bayes' Theorem), statistics (including tests of significance), and estimating complex functions computationally. All topics are presented in conjunction with musical applications.
Staff

21M.577 Overview of the Principles of Signals
______

Graduate (Fall); second half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 21M.576 and 21M.572; Coreq: 21M.573 or permission of instructor
Units: 1-1-2
______
Overview of signal processing techniques for music analysis in the audio domain, including their mathematical representations. Topics include sampling theory, filtering, convolution, and the Fourier transform, particularly in the discrete (digital) domain, with an emphasis on music applications and practice in Python.
Staff

21M.580[J] Musical Aesthetics and Media Technology
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as MAS.825[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
______
In-depth exploration of contemporary concepts in music and media. Studies recent music that uses advanced technology, and the artistic motivations and concerns implied by the new media. Practical experience with computer music technology, including MIDI and post-MIDI systems. Special emphasis on the interactive systems for professionals as well as amateurs. Midterm paper and term project required.
T. Machover

21M.581[J] Projects in Media and Music
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as MAS.826[J])
Prereq: MAS.825
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: W1-3.30 (E14-333)
______
Current computer music concepts and practice. Project-based work on research or production projects using the Media Lab's computer music, interactive, and media resources. Requires significant studio work and a term project. Projects based on class interests and skills, and may be individually or group-based. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
T. Machover
No textbook information available

21M.583 Computational Music Theory and Analysis
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21M.383)
Prereq: (21M.541 and 21M.565) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers major approaches to analyzing musical scores using computers. Topics include AI/machine learning of style, musical similarity, encoding, music composition, music perception, and big data repertory studies. Programming assignments given in Python. Culminates in an original final project. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21M.585 Interactive Music Systems
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with 6.4550[J], 21M.385[J])
Prereq: (21M.541 and 21M.565) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (4-270)
______
Explores audio synthesis, musical structure, human computer interaction (HCI), and visual presentation for the creation of interactive musical experiences. Topics include audio synthesis; mixing and looping; MIDI sequencing; generative composition; motion sensors; music games; and graphics for UI, visualization, and aesthetics. Includes weekly programming assignments in python. Teams build an original, dynamic, and engaging interactive music system for their final project. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Limited to 36.
Staff
No textbook information available

21M.587 Fundamentals of Music Processing
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 6.3020[J], 21M.387[J])
Prereq: (21M.541, 21M.565, and 21M.577) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Analyzes recorded music in digital audio form using advanced signal processing and optimization techniques to understand higher-level musical meaning. Covers fundamental tools like windowing, feature extraction, discrete and short-time Fourier transforms, chromagrams, and onset detection. Addresses analysis methods including dynamic time warping, dynamic programming, self-similarity matrices, and matrix factorization. Explores a variety of applications, such as event classification, audio alignment, chord recognition, structural analysis, tempo and beat tracking, content-based audio retrieval, and audio decomposition. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21M.589 Studies in Advanced Music Technology and Music Computation
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: (21M.540, 21M.565, and (21M.301 or 21M.541)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies of a selected topic in music technology requiring substantial prior knowledge of music studies, music technology, and computation. Topics vary. Examples include computational modeling of music cognition, artificial intelligence and musical creativity, or real-time Internet musical collaboration. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
Staff

21M.590 Colloquium in Music Technology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-0
______
Presentations of recent work in music research from both academic and commercial spheres.  Students prepare to engage with guest speakers by reading and demonstrating understanding of the sphere of work, attend presentations, and reflect on the work. Enrollment limited with priority to graduate students in music technology. May be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
Staff

21M.591 Capstone Project in Music Technology
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: (21M.540, 21M.565, and (21M.301 or 21M.541)) or permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-5
______
Preparation for and submission of the capstone project in the MASc in Music Technology. Provides an overview of expectations for the capstone project. Individual meetings with the research director/subject head and group meetings on the process of developing an idea from foundational music technology subjects with advanced topics learned simultaneously. Culminates in an individual research project and presentation. Restricted to MASc in Music Technology students.
Staff

21M.595 Music Technology And Computation Research Seminar
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Development of a thesis-level project in music technology and computation. Individual meetings with the research director/subject head and with individual thesis advisors, together with group meetings on research techniques, musical thinking, and graduate-level academic writing. Culminates in a submitted prospectus for a graduate project presented to the group. Restricted to SM in Music Technology and Computation students.
Staff

21M.S53, 21M.S54 Special Subject in Music
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
21M.S53: Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR3.30-5 (W18-1102)
21M.S54: Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR3.30-5 (W18-1102)
______
Study of musical topics not covered in the regular subject listings, particularly experimental subjects offered by permanent or visiting faculty.
Fall: A. Boyles
Spring: A. Boyles
21M.S53: No textbook information available
21M.S54: No textbook information available

21M.S55 Special Subject in Music
(New)
______

Undergrad (IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Study of musical topics not covered in the regular subject listings, particularly experimental subjects offered by permanent or visiting faculty.
Staff
No textbook information available

21M.S56 Special Subject in Music
(New)
______

Undergrad (IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Study of musical topics not covered in the regular subject listings, particularly experimental subjects offered by permanent or visiting faculty.
Staff
No textbook information available

21M.THG Directed Research and Thesis in Music Technology and Computation
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Program of research and writing of the SM thesis in Music Technology and Computation. Structure and hours to be arranged by the student with the supervising committee. Restricted to SM in Music Technology and Computation students.
Staff

21M.THT Music Pre-Thesis Tutorial
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-5
TBA.
______
Definition of and early-stage work on thesis project leading to undergraduate thesis in Music. Taken during the first term, or during IAP, of the student's two-term commitment to the thesis project. Student works closely with an individual faculty tutor. Limited to Music majors.
Fall: R. Burke
IAP: R. Burke
Spring: R. Burke
Textbooks arranged individually

21M.THU Undergraduate Thesis
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 21M.THT or permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Completion of work on senior major thesis in Music under supervision of a faculty tutor. Includes oral presentation of thesis project early in the term, assembling and revising final text and meeting at the close with a committee of Music faculty evaluators to discuss successes and limitations of the project. Limited to Music majors.
Fall: R. Burke
IAP: R. Burke
Spring: R. Burke
Textbooks arranged individually

21M.UR Undergraduate Research in Music
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Individual participation in ongoing Music research projects. For students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
Fall: R. Burke
IAP: R. Burke
Spring: R. Burke
Textbooks arranged individually

21M.URG Undergraduate Research in Music
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Individual participation in an ongoing music research project. For students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Progam.
Fall: R. Burke
IAP: R. Burke
Spring: R. Burke
Textbooks arranged individually


left arrow | 21M.100-21M.URG | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 21T: Theater Arts
IAP/Spring 2025


Undergraduate Subjects

21T.100 Theater Arts Production
(21M.812)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21T.500)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: W EVE (7-10 PM) (W97-160, W97-275)
______
Students to join Theater Arts faculty and staff in the development of a fully-staged production for an audience in MIT's laboratory for the performing arts at W97. Students collaborate as performers, designers, writers, choreographers and technicians. Weekly rehearsals, design labs, and workshops introduce students to an array of rehearsal and performance techniques over the course of the term. Culminates in a public performance, open to students at all levels of experience. Each term evolves a different project which may include community-driven interventions, classical or contemporary plays, devised works, screenplays, musicals or other live performance events.  Enrollment limited.
Fall: Staff
Spring: B. Foster
No textbook information available

21T.101 Introduction to Acting
(21M.600)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW9-11 (50-201) or MW11-1 (50-201) or MW1-3 (50-201) or TR9-11 (50-201)
______
Explores the actor's tools: body, voice, mind, imagination, and the essential self. Through studio exercises, students address issues of honesty and creativity in the theatrical moment, and begin to have a sense of their strengths and limitations as communicating theatrical artists. Provides an opportunity for students to discover their relationship to "the other" in the acting partner, the group, the environment, and the audience. Limited to 20 per section.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No textbook information available

21T.102 Voice and Speech for the Actor
(21M.605)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
URL: http://mta.mit.edu/theater/class-schedule
Lecture: TR11-1 (50-201) or TR1-3 (50-201) or TR3-5 (50-201)
______
Thorough exploration of the voice in the context of human communication, provides a progression of exercises designed to free, develop, and strengthen the voice — first as a human instrument and then as the actor's instrument. Explores a progression of voice work that begins with physical awareness and breathing, moving into breath awareness, discovery of the body as the source and amplifier of sound vibration, opens the vocal channel, and develops strength and range in creative expression. Uses historical speeches and heightened language text to expand use and freeing of voice and self. Subject may culminate in a public presentation. Final grade highly dependent on attendance. Limited to 20; preference to Theater majors, minors, and concentrators who have pre-registered.
Fall: K. Eastley
Spring: K. Eastley
No textbook information available

21T.103 Motion Theater
(21M.645)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T EVE (7-10 PM) (W97-160)
______
Examines the theatrical event from the perspective of composition in a performance workshop. Studio exercises address the process of developing a theatrical work through an internalized understanding of compositional principles in theater. Examines physical action in time and space. Includes outside readings, videos, short essays, and in-class discussions. Provides the performer, director, choreographer, designer or writer opportunities to engage with large and small group ensembles in creation of theatrical events. Topics include image, motion, shape, repetition, gesture, and spatial relationship. Preference to majors, minors, concentrators. Admittance may be controlled by lottery.
Fall: B. Foster
Spring: B. Foster
No textbook information available

21T.104 Fundamentals of Directing
(21M.790)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with 21T.504)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studio workshop introduces students to the collaborative artistic practice of directing for the theater, opera, and other live performance disciplines. Weekly sessions provide students the opportunity to develop innovative theatrical events through rigorous analysis of dramatic texts, social practices, musical scores and libretti, and other source materials. With a focus on collaboration, students conduct dramaturgical research, experiment with behavior and motion, create compositional studies, design interventions, and complete other scenographic exercises culminating in an end-of-semester presentation for an invited audience. Generative studio prompts are complimented by selected readings, field trips, interactions with guest artists, and video viewings. Students are encouraged to bring their own unique points of view and to celebrate difference. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

21T.110 Physical Improvisation: Bodies in Motion
(21M.623)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW9-11 (W97-160) or MW11-1 (W97-160) or MW1-3 (W97-162) or TR9-11 (W97-160) or TR1-3 (W97-162, W97-160)
______
Explores the realities of the body in space and motion - interacting with gravity, momentum, inertia, alignment, negative space, one's imagination, one's body, other bodies, the present room and rooms from memory, geometry, stillness, and more. By releasing tension and abandoning the notion of pre-planning, students experience a natural, spontaneous flow of movement, opening themselves up to, and diving into, whatever might happen. Develops alertness in order to work in an energetic state of physical disorientation, self-correcting what doesn't work and reinforcing what does on the spot, discovering physical/emotional truths and shared moments that leave students aware, centered, incredibly present, and sharply alive. Limited to 20 per section.
Fall: D. Safer
Spring: D. Safer
No textbook information available

21T.111 Physical Improvisation: Scores and Structures
(21M.622)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Explores physical improvisation in dance/theater from a variety of task-based, conceptual vantage points. Focuses on conceptual frameworks for generating intensely physical dramatic actions and dances that unlock the students' creativity. Investigates topics such as narrative, how stories and scenarios can elicit movement and emotionally resonant physical interaction; visual composition, creating movement and actions on stage from an imagistic starting point; and hypothetical worlds, movement based on the creation of rules for alternate worlds (e.g., strange, indigenous time, strange evolution). Explores solos, duets, trios, and larger ensemble improvisations. Limited to 20 per section.
D. Safer

21T.120 Fundamentals of Theater Design
(21M.603)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the fundamental skills and concepts of scenography through a series of individual design projects structured to explore the relationship of the performer to the environment, the interrelation of lighting and stage design, and the evolution of visual narrative. Develops a basic visual literacy for the theater by honing skills in drawing, model building, 3-D modeling, digital image manipulation, and color theory. Projects complimented by study of artworks and theories by Cindy Sherman, Sol LeWitt, Alan Kaprow, Robert Wilson, Bertolt Brecht, Caspar Neher, and others. Lab fee required. Enrollment may be limited.
S. Brown

21T.121 Drawing for Designers
(21M.601)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: M EVE (7-10 PM) (W97-261) or T EVE (7-10 PM) (W97-261) or W EVE (7-10 PM) (W97-261) or R EVE (7-10 PM) (W97-261)
______
Explores drawing as a fundamental component of the design process. In-class drawing exercises focus on developing the hand-to-eye relationship and pre-visualization skills essential to any designer. Studies the use drawing as a route to understanding space and form and achieving accuracy through expression. By drawing figures, landscapes and/or still life compositions in a variety of media, students investigate the figure/ground relationship while dealing with tone, line, and composition, which are all requisite elements of design. Provides exposure to designers who have used drawing as a central component of their work. Students create a portfolio that includes in-class drawings, studies done outside of class, and one research-based written project. Lab fee required.  Limited to 20.
Fall: S. Lacey, M. Marla
Spring: S. Lacey, M. McLoed
No textbook information available

21T.122 Introduction to Stagecraft
(21M.606)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Provides a foundation in theater technology, examining the creation of a theatrical production from conception to performance. Explores the realization of an artistic and structural vision for a play, taking into account all facets of technical theater: history of productions, types of technical roles, design, drafting, carpentry, costume, lighting, rigging, stage management, sound, and video. Students serve on the production team responsible for building, installing and/or running the department's show that semester. Limited to 18.
A. Gitchel

21T.130 Performance Media
(21M.840)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with 21T.530)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: F2-5 (W97-160)
______
Integrates media and communication technologies in performing arts. Studio exercises provide a forum for experimentation. Contemporary and historical techniques for media integration examined through readings, viewing videos and short written essays. Technologies examined include digital imaging, composite and live feed digital video, and web-based performance. Engages the designer, director, choreographer, performer, visual artist or programmer in the practice of integrating media into live art events. Equipment is provided. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
L. Rodriguez
No textbook information available

21T.131 Script Analysis
(21M.710)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: R2-5 (W97-267)
______
Focuses on reading a play's script critically and theatrically, with a view to mounting a coherent production. Through careful, intensive analysis of a variety of plays from different periods and aesthetics, a pattern emerges for discerning what options exist for interpreting a script from the distinct perspectives of the playwright, the actor, the designer, and the director. Students discuss the consequences of those options for production.  Enrollment limited.
Fall: M. De Simone
Spring: M. De Simone
No textbook information available

21T.141[J] Introduction to Drama
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21L.005[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
A study of the history of theater art and practice from its origins to the modern period, including its roles in non-Western cultures. Special attention to the relationship between the literary and performative dimensions of drama, and the relationship between drama and its cultural context. Enrollment limited.
Sandy Alexandre

21T.150[J] Playwriting Fundamentals
(21M.604)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21W.754[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the craft of writing for the theater, with special attention to the basics of dramatic structure. Through weekly assignments and in-class exercises, students explore character, conflict, language and plasticity in scenes and short plays. In workshop format, students present individual work for feedback and heavily revise their work based on that response. Readings include a variety of plays.
K. Tarker

21T.201 Acting with the Camera
(21M.624)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Studio workshop explores the discipline of acting for the camera through in-class exercises that focus on the creative challenges inherent to both filming and being filmed. Investigates the performer in the history of cinema, television, and multimedia stage performance through readings, screenings, and experimentation with the theory and practice of performing for and with the camera. Culminates in student-written, edited, directed, and acted short films. Instruction in written and oral communication provided. Limited to 20.
A. Kohler

21T.202 Solo Performance
(21M.702)
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies the theatrical canon of monodramas and solo performances to hone individual acting skills. Goes on to explore each student's original artistic voice by presenting strategies in composing and staging work, thus introducing them to experiments with performing the self in society. Each student creates their own original performance piece by the end of the term. Enrollment limited.
B. Foster

21T.203 Music Theater Workshop
(21M.704)
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: 21T.101 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces applications of music in theater and performance. Encourages experimentation with different genres of singing, acting, and movement by exploring an array of historical and contemporary styles and techniques. Students develop and perform their own original songs and textual materials, gaining a theoretical and practical understanding of the actor's contribution to the dynamic form of musical theater. Previous experience in musical theater not required.
Staff

21T.204 Acting Intensive
(21M.705)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 21T.101 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR3-5 (W97-269)
______
Gives students who have begun the process of bringing themselves to a dramatic moment the opportunity to apply their skills to scripted material. Studio work in this class further develops the completeness, spontaneity, and honesty of expression of the actor's body, imagination, and voice; and introduces written material and the problems of synthesizing the self, the moment, and the scripted word. Weekly rehearsals with a scene partner. Enrollment may be limited.
J. Rubio
No textbook information available

21T.210 Choreography: Making Dances
(21M.712)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR3-5 (W97-162)
______
Laboratory-style class explores and invents techniques used to create dances. Students practice techniques focused on how and where to begin making a dance - sampling some of the endless ways to start a process, such as from the body, an idea, text, or a song - and then how to build up from there. Students make dances that are more than just a collection of moves, but events that do something, say something, or ask something. Builds a clear understanding of how a dance has an arc, a clear beginning, middle, and end, so that by doing it or watching it, both participants and audience end up somewhere new. Develops an understating of, and facility with, a wide variety of topics used to explore, start and generate movement, dance and performative events involving bodies moving through space. Enrollment limited.
Fall: J. Clark
Spring: D. Safer
No textbook information available

21T.220 Set Design
(21M.733)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Investigates the creation of set design for live performance. Students develop designs related to current production projects at MIT. Focuses on developing the designer's communication tools, particularly in the areas of visual research, 3-D digital model making, and design presentation. Examines the relationship of set design to theater architecture, emerging media technologies and dramaturgies of the 20th and 21st centuries. In addition to creating their own designs, students research, write about, and present the work and practice of a set designer. Lab fee required.
A. Rubin-Higgason

21T.221 Lighting Design
(21M.734)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: M EVE (7-10 PM) (W97-160)
______
Explores the history, concepts and techniques of sculpting space with light within a contemporary context. Students experiment with a wide range of approaches, tools, and skills to develop their own creative vision. Focuses on discrete forms that include live performance, installation, architecture, and developments in applied technologies. Studio projects alternate between conceptual studies and realized designs reflective of students' own unique interests and talents. Enrollment may be limited.
J. Higgason
No textbook information available

21T.222 Costume Design
(21M.732)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studio workshop designed for students who possess a basic understanding of the principles of design and seek a more intensive study of costume. Students develop designs through a collaborative creative process that incorporates production dramaturgy and script analysis, and map those findings to a scenographically charged directorial concept. Fosters period research, conceptual design, and rendering skills through practical studio exercises. Instruction in life drawing, visual presentation, and basic costume construction provides the tools for applying conceptual design skills in performance. Lab fee required. 
Haac

21T.223 Sound Design
(21M.731)
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: M EVE (7-10 PM) (W97-269)
______
Introduces the elements of a sound designer's work, such as music and sound effects which inform and make stage action plausible, to sound system design and placement and the use of microphones. Discusses how effective sound design enhances live performance by clarifying storytelling, heightening emotional experience, and making words and music legible to an audience. Provides students with the tools to continue practicing and appreciating the art regardless of their professional ambitions. Enrollment limited.
C. Frederickson
No textbook information available

21T.224 Technical Design for Performance
(21M.735)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 21T.122 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Studio examines the role of the technical designer as an integral member of an ensemble. Focusing on the artistic process, students develop their own unique approaches to stage design, lighting, sound, video design and other new media applications for the performing arts. They also explore an array of pre-production research and rehearsal techniques and analyze dramatic texts. Introduces theoretical and practical aspects of technical design, from the budgeting of time and selection of materials, to use of new technologies. Culminates in a public showing of final design projects for an invited audience.
J. Higgason

21T.230 Production Seminar
(21M.711)
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: R2-5 (W97-165)
______
Pursues detailed study of a particular playtext or theme and is related to some planned production activity during the following IAP. Seminar activities may include guest speakers from various disciplines who approach some aspect of the playtext or theme from the perspective of their fields; various theatrical practitioners; and critical and scholarly presentations by seminar members. Participation in the IAP production is not required.
J. Scheib
No textbook information available

21T.231 Talking and Dancing
(21M.747)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T EVE (7-10 PM) (W97-162)
______
Interdisciplinary dance theater studio invites students to investigate the spaces between dance and theater. Students engage in an array of acting and dance techniques to generate text from movement and movement from text. In-studio exercises examine the process of melding the expressive languages of words with languages of the body. Students use existing texts and compose original texts in the development of solo, duet, and ensemble projects. Explores the process of seeing and providing peer feedback to further expand the process of revision. Readings, short writings, video viewings, and guest lectures provide multiple avenues of understanding and illumine differing ways of making. Culminates with an opportunity for students to refine, develop, and share their projects in performance.
D. Irizarry Osorio
No textbook information available

21T.232 Producing Podcasts
(21M.784)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: M2-5 (W97-269)
______
Students write and produce a pilot episode of a narrative podcast (about fifteen minutes in length); sources come from interviews or research that students conduct. At the start of the term, students pitch possible stories. Discussions of selected episodes of narrative podcasts such as Serial, Homecoming, and This American Life. Introduces the basics of podcast recording with a primer on using Logic Pro X and hardware like the Apogee Duet. Students record and edit a rough draft of their podcast using provided portable recording studio kits. Podcasts shared with the larger MIT community at the Podcast Listening Room at the end of term. Enrollment limited.
Fall: C. Frederickson
Spring: C. Frederickson
No textbook information available

21T.240[J] Sport as Performance
(21M.690)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as WGS.264[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Seminar investigates the aesthetics of sport as theatrical performance and explores the performance of race, gender, class, nation, and sexuality in sport. Readings drawn from theatre/performance studies, anthropology, sociology, ethnic studies, gender studies, history, and kinesiology. Topics include barnstorming, Olympics, Title IX, Native American mascots, and a variety of sports ranging from football to figure skating. Limited to 18.
C. Conceison

21T.241 China on Stage
(21M.700)
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21T.541
______
Explores the role theater productions have played in shaping Chinese society, politics, and cultural exchange during the past century. Topics include censorship, audience reception, and current translingual and cross-cultural trends. Examines plays in English translation, videos, photographs, archival materials, and English-language books and articles about Chinese theater.  Enrollment limited.
C. Conceison

21T.242 Asian American Theater
(21M.706)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-1-8
______
Explores the history and impact of Asian American theater. Readings include plays and materials about cultural and political issues, family, and identity. Includes short formal and creative writing assignments and scene work resulting in a collaborative final performance. Limited to 18.
Staff

21T.243 Theater and Race
(21M.707)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores Black, Latinx, Asian American, Indigenous, and/or mixed race theater through the lens of identities and experiences. Emphasis on BIPOC voices, plays, artists, theater ensembles, collectives, and cultural organizations. Topics may include cross-ethnic casting, public action and activism, and other emerging contemporary performance platforms. Seminar discussions, readings, research and creative projects, sessions with visiting artists and scholars, and attendance of at least one live performance inform and enrich the experience. May be repeated for credit if content differs.
Staff

21T.244[J] Modern Drama
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 21L.486[J], WGS.285[J])
Prereq: One subject in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-486-modern-drama/
______
Explores major modern plays with special attention to performance, sociopolitical and aesthetic contexts, and the role of theater in the contemporary multimedial landscape. Includes analysis of class, gender, and race as modes of performance. Typically features Beckett and Brecht, as well as some of the following playwrights: Chekov, Churchill, Deavere Smith, Ibsen, Fornes, Friel, Kushner, O'Neill, Shaw, Stoppard, Soyinka, Williams, Wilson. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs.
D. Henderson

21T.245 Play Translation and Cultural Transmission
(21M.716)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Through reading texts about translation and by doing an independent project, students develop significant skills in translation theory and practice, culminating in a public staged reading of their translations. Each student chooses a dramatic text from a non-English language and translates a scene during the semester. Readings include topics such as globalization, adaptation, gender in translation, and postcolonial approaches to translation.
C. Conceison

21T.246[J] Studies in Drama
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 21L.703[J])
Prereq: Two subjects in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-703-studies-in-drama/
Lecture: TR3-4.30 (14N-325)
______
Intensive study of an important topic or period in drama. Close analysis of major plays, enriched by critical readings and attention to historical and theatrical contexts. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication through student presentations and research essays. Previously taught topics include: Renaissance Drama; Shakespeare with his Contemporaries; Oscar Wilde; and Stoppard and Company. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs. Limited to 12.
D. Henderson
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

21T.247[J] How We Got to Hamilton
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21L.500[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Traces the evolution of the American musical from minstrelsy to Hamilton. Equips students with terms, tools, and techniques to enrich their analysis of how individual songs, scenes, and dances — as well as whole shows — are structured. Recovers the groundbreaking yet often forgotten or appropriated achievements of artists of color to Broadway and Hollywood musicals. Features a mix of creative and critical assignments, some of which may be linked to field trips to local theaters, dance studios, and archives. Limited to 20.
Staff

21T.248 Contemporary American Theater
(21M.714)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T EVE (7-10 PM) (W97-269)
______
Examines the exciting terrain of contemporary American writing for the theater, focusing on what is known in New York as "Off Broadway," "downtown," or "indie theater." Students read work by influential playwrights from earlier generations alongside plays by new voices currently in production in Boston, New York, and across the country. Students also examine the changing institution of American theater, reading a selection of plays in order to determine what constellation of issues and concerns they engage. Discussions unpack how these plays reflect, challenge and re-construct the idea of America in the 21st century. Enrollment limited.
Fall: M. De Simone
Spring: M. De Simone
No textbook information available

21T.250[J] Playwriting Methods
(21M.607)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21W.774[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: R2-5 (5-232)
______
Builds understanding of the methods playwrights use to transform an idea - drawn from their own lives, news and current events, even the plays of other writers - into a reality. Students use a variety of inspiration to write their own new scenes and short plays. Examines how research can help develop an idea for a new play and discusses ways to adapt a classic text for the contemporary stage. Writers also conduct personal interviews and use the transcript as source material for a new scene. Enrollment limited.
K. Urban
No textbook information available

21T.251[J] Screenwriting
(21M.608)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21W.776[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the fundamentals of screenplay writing.  Presents skills to create compelling characters and stories in different dramatic genres (comedy, drama). In addition to their own writing, students read a selection of screenplays and watch short films that form the basis of class discussion early in the term.  Class is modeled on a professional development workshop in which participants, over the course of the term, write a short screenplay, including a final draft.  Enrollment limited.
K. Urban

21T.301 Acting: Techniques and Style
(21M.830)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21T.501)
Prereq: 21T.101 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Refines the student actor's use of the language of the stage with work on text and physical presentation. Explores issues of style, including the understanding and honoring, in performance, of the specific requirements from several different periods of the Western theatrical tradition. Periods may differ from term to term. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

21T.320 Interactive Design and Projection for Live Performance
(21M.737)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
Prereq: None
Units: 3-4-5
______
Studies design, history, artistic purposes, and programming techniques involved in the development of interactive performance design systems for controlling video projection, media, and lighting for live performances. Includes readings, viewings of historical and contemporary works, and in class-practice and performance. Students use motion-sensing input devices, such as the Kinect, infrared-light tracking, accelerometers, live video, and generative graphics, to create interactive design systems.  Enrollment limited.
J. Higgason

21T.321 Production Design Visualization
(21M.820)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with 21T.521)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Engages the skills and techniques used by contemporary production designers to pre-visualize their designs. Students explore perspective drawing, painting, drafting, storyboarding and an array of physical and 3D computer modeling techniques used in theatrical and cinematic production design practices. Emphasizes the combination of digital and analog approaches. Studio projects focus on the challenges of adapting existing found spaces as well as imagined environments for the stage and screen. Using the Nine Square Grid problem, students create virtual reality landscapes and interact dynamically with their production designs in AR and VR. Includes readings, video viewings and talks by guest artists. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

21T.331 Live Cinema Performance
(21M.842)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with 21T.531)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Interdisciplinary studio introduces the theoretical basis, technical idiosyncrasies, and artistic practices of Live Cinema Performance. Examines the meaningful integration of live theatrical and cinematic idioms through merging the disciplines of the performer and the director, scenographer and cinematographer, choreographer and filmmaker. Studio exercises, readings, screenings, field trips, and in-class presentations give students the opportunity to study the history and theory surrounding the development of the genre and engage the artistic practice from both sides of the camera. Guest artists, lectures, and master classes deepen the perspective. Each session focuses on a particular dramatist, theme, or artistic genre, culminating in a research-driven, full-length collaboration, to be presented in the final week of class for an invited audience. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21T.340 Performance Studies: Advanced Theories of Sport
(21M.848)
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Prereq: 21T.240 and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: M EVE (7-10 PM) (4-251)
______
Seminar explores connections between athletics and theatre, performance studies, sociology, anthropology, and history. Focuses on performance of nation, race, and gender in sport, and how sport performs in society. Specific topics selected based on the research focus of each student. Enrollment limited.
C. Conceison
No textbook information available

21T.345 Advanced Play Translation
(21M.816)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
(Subject meets with 21T.545)
Prereq: 21T.245 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Builds on skills and theories introduced in 21M.716, with the goal of expansion of the one-scene translation project from the previous class into a full-length play translation. Includes selected readings and continued weekly progress on the play translation project, in consultation with instructor. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. Conceison

21T.350[J] Writing the Full-Length Play
(21M.780)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 21W.780[J])
(Subject meets with 21T.550)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Students write and extensively revise a full-length play, from an initial idea to a revised draft. For our purposes, any script longer than thirty minutes and under a hundred minutes is considered a full-length play. Students respond to each other's work using a method inspired by dancer Liz Lerman, giving non-prescriptive advice and feedback to their fellow writers. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 10.
K. Urban

21T.355 Playwrights Lab
(21M.785)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21T.555)
Prereq: 21T.350 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: W EVE (7-10 PM) (W97-267)
______
Students workshop their full-length play completed in 21M.780/21M.781 as part of the MTA Playwrights Lab, a collaboration between MIT students and professional actors and directors. Each writer engages in note sessions with a director and prepares a rehearsal draft. Writers attend rehearsals for a staged reading of their work and collaborate with their director and cast. Writers are expected to participate in other readings in the Lab, as a stage direction reader and as an audience member. Following the public presentation of the play, students process the experience and complete a final revision of the script. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 10.
K. Urban
No textbook information available

Special Topics

21T.400 Independent Study in Performance and Design
(21M.851)
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Multidisciplinary independent study provides opportunity for individual practica in the performing arts. While opportunities may include directed theoretical research and practice in production and performance with permanent and visiting faculty, students are encouraged to propose independent programs of study to a member of the theater arts faculty. Permission of supervising faculty member required.
Fall: Theater Arts Staff
IAP: Theater Arts Staff
Spring: K. Urban
Summer: Theater Arts Staff
No textbook information available

21T.403 Performance and Design Workshop
(21M.803)
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-3-0
URL: IAP URL: http://mta.mit.edu/theater/class-schedule
TBA.
______
Provides directed practice in the disciplines of performance practice, including design, acting, directing, technical theater, management, dramaturgy and other creative fields. Students test and refine their skills by participating in the creation of produced plays, intensive workshops, installations and other design or performance projects in dance, film, music theater, opera, and other performing arts events. Students work closely with faculty, peers and guest artists. Students seeking to design individual performance and design workshops must be supervised by a theater arts faculty member, and obtain his or her written approval.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Summer: Staff
No textbook information available

21T.406 Applied Performance and Design Production
(21M.806)
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-6-0
TBA.
______
Provides opportunities for applied practice in the disciplines of performance, including acting, directing, playwriting, design, technical theater, dramaturgy, and management. Students test and refine their skills in the prototyping of design projects, installations, plays, dance, film, music theater, opera, and other performing arts events. They also apply theory and practice while tracing the research and rehearsal process through production and public presentation in the theater or in the studio. Students seeking to design an applied project must be supervised by a theater arts faculty member, and obtain his or her written approval.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Summer: Staff
No textbook information available

21T.409 Performance and Design Intensive
(21M.809)
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) HASS Arts
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-9-0
TBA.
______
Multidisciplinary, term-long, independent study geared toward the development of significant artistic and technical projects in performance and design. Students pursue projects in an array of fields and are invited to propose artistic and research projects as actors, directors, designers, dramaturges, and/or technical designers. Often in conjunction with Theater Arts-produced productions, proposals for intensives must be vetted and supervised by a member of the Theater Arts faculty with whom the student will work over the course of term.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Summer: Staff
No textbook information available

21T.420 Topics in Performance Technique
(21M.861)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: M EVE (7-10 PM) (W97-162)
______
Explores elements of technique in a variety of performance disciplines. Topics vary from term to term; may be taught by visiting faculty. May be repeated for credit if content differs.  Enrollment may be limited.
Fall: M. Previlus
Spring: McKersin
No textbook information available

21T.421 Topics in Performance Practice
(21M.862)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW3-5 (W97-162)
______
Class explores elements of performance in a studio setting. Topics vary from term to term; may be taught by visiting faculty. May be repeated for credit if content differs. Enrollment may be limited.
J. Clark
No textbook information available

21T.422 Advanced Topics in Theater Arts
(21M.863)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-1 (W97-162)
______
Advanced multidisciplinary studio workshop provides opportunity for advanced study in the performing arts. Topics vary from term to term; may be taught by visiting faculty. May be repeated for credit if content differs.
Clark
No textbook information available

21T.423 Topics in Theater Arts
(21M.715)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Multidisciplinary seminar provides opportunity for study in performance theory and practice. Topics vary from term to term; may be taught by visiting faculty. May be repeated for credit if content differs.
Staff

21T.424 Topics in Performance Studies
(21M.846)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21T.524)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Multidisciplinary lecture/workshop engages students in a variety of approaches to the study and practice of performance as an area of aesthetic and social interaction. Special attention paid to the use of diverse media in performance. Interdisciplinary approaches to study encourage students to seek out material histories of performance and practice. May be repeated for credit if topics differ.
Staff

21T.425 Research in Theater
(21M.864)
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Offers directed research in the spheres of theory, history, performance studies, dramaturgy, etc. Permission of the supervising member of the Theater Arts faculty required.
Fall: Consult Staff
IAP: Consult Staff
Spring: Consult Staff
Summer: Consult Staff
No textbook information available

21T.THT Theater Arts Pre-Thesis Tutorial
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-5
TBA.
______
Definition of and early-stage work on thesis project leading to undergraduate thesis in Theater Arts. Taken during the first term, or during IAP, of the student's two-term commitment to the thesis project. Student works closely with an individual faculty tutor. Limited to Theater Arts majors. Consult Theater Arts Major Advisor.
Staff
Textbooks arranged individually

21T.THU Theater Arts Undergraduate Thesis
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 21T.THT or permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Completion of work on senior major thesis in Theater Arts under supervision of a faculty tutor. Includes oral presentation of thesis project early in the term, assembling and revising final text, and meeting at the close with a committee of Theater Arts faculty evaluators to discuss successes and limitations of the project. Limited to Theater Arts majors.
Staff
Textbooks arranged individually

21T.UR Undergraduate Research in Theater Arts
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Individual participation in ongoing Theater Arts research projects. For students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
Staff
Textbooks arranged individually

21T.URG Undergraduate Research in Theater Arts
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Individual participation in an ongoing Theater Arts research project. For students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
Staff
Textbooks arranged individually

Graduate Subjects

21T.500 Theater Arts Production
(21M.822)
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21T.100)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: W EVE (7-10 PM) (W97-160, W97-275)
______
Production studio invites students to join Theater Arts faculty and staff in the development of a fully-staged production for an invited audience in MIT's new laboratory for the performing arts. Students are immersed in the collaboration as performers, designers, writers, choreographers and technicians. Weekly rehearsals, design labs, and workshops introduce students to an array of rehearsal and performance techniques over the course of the semester. Culminating in a public performance, students at all levels of experience are encouraged to join. Each semester evolves a different project which may include community-driven interventions, classical or contemporary plays, devised works, screenplays, musicals or other live performance events.  Enrollment limited.
Staff
No textbook information available

21T.501 Acting: Techniques and Style
(21M.835)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21T.301)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Refines the student actor's use of the language of the stage with work on text and physical presentation. Explores issues of style, including the understanding and honoring, in performance, of the specific requirements from several different periods of the Western theatrical tradition. Periods may differ from term to term. Students taking graduate versions complete additional assignments.
Staff

21T.504 Fundamentals of Directing
(21M.791)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 21T.104)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Studio workshop introduces students to the collaborative artistic practice of directing for the theater, opera, and other live performance disciplines. Weekly sessions provide students the opportunity to develop innovative theatrical events through rigorous analysis of dramatic texts, social practices, musical scores and libretti, and other source materials. With a focus on collaboration, students conduct dramaturgical research, experiment with behavior and motion, create compositional studies, design interventions, and other scenographic exercises culminating in an end-of-semester presentation for an invited audience. Generative studio prompts are complimented by selected readings, fieldtrips, interactions with guest artists, and video viewings. Students are encouraged to bring their own unique points of view and to celebrate difference. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. Scheib

21T.521 Production Design Visualization
(21M.821)
______

Graduate (Summer)
(Subject meets with 21T.321)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Engages the skills and techniques used by contemporary production designers to pre-visualize their designs. Students explore perspective drawing, painting, drafting, storyboarding and an array of physical and 3D computer modeling techniques used in theatrical and cinematic production design practices. Emphasizes the combination of digital and analog approaches. Studio projects focus on the challenges of adapting existing found spaces as well as imagined environments for the stage and screen. Using the Nine Square Grid problem, students create virtual reality landscapes and interact dynamically with their production designs in AR and VR. Includes readings, video viewings and talks by guest artists. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

21T.524 Topics in Performance Studies
(21M.847)
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21T.424)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
See description under 21M.846. Assignments differ.
Staff

21T.525 Research in Theater
(21M.865)
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Offers directed research of advanced theatrical subjects occurring in either the performance or theoretical spheres. May be repeated for credit with permission.
Staff
No textbook information available

21T.530 Performance Media
(21M.841)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Summer)
(Subject meets with 21T.130)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Integrates media and communication technologies in performing arts. Studio exercises provide a forum for experimentation. Contemporary and historical techniques for media integration examined through readings, viewing videos and short written essays. Technologies examined include digital imaging, composite and live feed digital video, and web-based performance. Engages the designer, director, choreographer, performer, visual artist or programmer in the practice of integrating media into live art events. Equipment is provided. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

21T.531 Live Cinema Performance
(21M.843)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 21T.331)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Interdisciplinary studio introduces the theoretical basis, technical idiosyncrasies, and artistic practices of Live Cinema Performance. Examines the meaningful integration of live theatrical and cinematic idioms through merging the disciplines of the performer and the director, scenographer and cinematographer, choreographer and filmmaker. Studio exercises, readings, screenings, field trips, and in-class presentations give students the opportunity to study the history and theory surrounding the development of the genre and engage the artistic practice from both sides of the camera. Guest artists, lectures, and master classes deepen the perspective. Each session focuses on a particular dramatist, theme, or artistic genre, culminating in a research-driven, full-length collaboration, to be presented in the final week of class for an invited audience. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21T.541 China on Stage
(21M.701)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21T.241
URL: http://mta.mit.edu/theater/class-schedule
______
Explores the role theater productions have played in shaping Chinese society, politics, and cultural exchange during the past century. Topics include censorship, audience reception, and current translingual and cross-cultural trends. Examines plays in English translation, videos, photographs, archival materials, and English-language books and articles about Chinese theater. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21T.545 Advanced Play Translation
(21M.817)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 21T.345)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Builds on skills and theories introduced in 21M.716, with goal of expansion of the one-scene translation project from the previous class into a full-length play translation. Includes selected readings and continued weekly progress on the play translation project, in consultation with instructor. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

21T.550 Writing the Full-Length Play
(21M.781)
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21T.350[J], 21W.780[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Students write and extensively revise a full-length play, from an initial idea to a revised draft. For our purposes, any script longer than thirty minutes and under a hundred minutes is considered a full-length play. Students respond to each other's work using a method inspired by dancer Liz Lerman, giving non-prescriptive advice and feedback to their fellow writers. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 10.
K. Urban

21T.555 Playwrights Lab
(21M.789)
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with 21T.355)
Prereq: 21T.550 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: W EVE (7-10 PM) (W97-267)
______
Students workshop their full-length play completed in 21M.780/21M.781 as part of the MTA Playwrights Lab, a collaboration between MIT students and professional actors and directors. Each writer engages in note sessions with a director and prepares a rehearsal draft. Writers attend rehearsals for a staged reading of their work and collaborate with their director and cast. Writers are expected to participate in other readings in the Lab, as a stage direction reader and as an audience member. Following the public presentation of the play, students process the experience and complete a final revision of the script. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment is limited to 10.
K. Urban
No textbook information available


left arrow | 21T.100-21T.URG | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Women's and Gender Studies Program
IAP/Spring 2025


Consult the program office, 14N-213, for information about other subjects that may qualify for WGS credit.

Undergraduate Subjects

WGS.101 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW2-3.30 (4-145)
______
Drawing on multiple disciplines - such as literature, history, economics, psychology, philosophy, political science, anthropology, media studies and the arts - to examine cultural assumptions about sex, gender, and sexuality. Integrates analysis of current events through student presentations, aiming to increase awareness of contemporary and historical experiences of women, and of the ways sex and gender interact with race, class, nationality, and other social identities. Students are introduced to recent scholarship on gender and its implications for traditional disciplines.
Fall: A. Walsh
Spring: Alessandra Jungs de Almeida
No textbook information available

WGS.109 Women and Global Activism in Media and Politics
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (4-159)
______
An interdisciplinary subject that examines questions of feminism, international women's issues, and globalization through the study of novels, films, critical essays, painting and music. Considers how women redefine the notions of community and nation, how development affects their lives, and how access to the internet and to the production industry impacts women's lives. Primary topics of interest include transformations of traditional values, social change, gender role distribution, identity formation, migration flows, globalization and development, popular culture, urban life, cyber-culture, activism, and human rights. Limited to 25 when Writing Tutor is assigned to the class. Otherwise, limited to 18.
A. Sur
No textbook information available

WGS.110[J] Sexual and Gender Identities in the Modern United States
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.108[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to the history of gender, sex, and sexuality in the modern United States, from the end of the 19th century to the present. Surveys historical approaches to the field, emphasizing the changing nature of sexual and gender identities over time. Traces attempts to control, construct, and contain sexual and gender identities. Examines the efforts of those who worked to resist, reject, and reform institutionalized heterosexuality and mainstream configurations of gendered power.
Staff

WGS.111[J] Gender and Media Studies
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as CMS.619[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines representations of race, gender, and sexual identity in the media. Considers issues of authorship, spectatorship, and the ways in which various media (film, television, print journalism, advertising) enable, facilitate, and challenge these social constructions in society. Studies the impact of new media and digital media through analysis of gendered and racialized language and embodiment online in blogs and vlogs, avatars, and in the construction of cyberidentities. Provides introduction to feminist approaches to media studies by drawing from work in feminist film theory, cultural studies, gender and politics, and cyberfeminism.
Arain, Hafsa

WGS.115 Gender and Technology
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Considers a wide range of issues related to the contemporary and historical use of technology, the development of new technologies, and the cultural representation of technology, including the role women have played in the development of technology and the effect of technological change on the roles of women and ideas of gender. Discusses the social implications of technology and its understanding and deployment in different cultural contexts. Investigates the relationships between technology and identity categories, such as gender, race, class, and sexuality. Examines how technology offers possibilities for new social relations and how to evaluate them.
Jungs de Almeida, Alessandra

WGS.118[J] Gender in the Visual Arts
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as CMS.418[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores gender and race through interdisciplinary perspectives from film and visual studies, art history, and performance studies. Provides an overview of methodologies and practices, with an emphasis on contemporary artists working across mediums. Contextualizes artistic output within broader systems of power and cultural institutions. Reflects on the politics of visibility, hypervisibility, and invisibility through an intersectional feminist approach that draws on perspectives from trans*, queer, feminist, dis/ability, and critical race theory. Lectures are supplemented by screenings, discussions, workshops, guest lectures, and optional field trips. Culminates in a final creative project that includes a presentation.
Staff

WGS.120[J] Science in Action: Technologies and Controversies in Everyday Life
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as STS.012[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://sts-program.mit.edu/academics/subjects/sts012-sp25/
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (E51-361)
______
Explores a range of controversies about the role of technology, the nature of scientific research and the place of politics in science: debates about digital piracy and privacy, the role of activism in science, the increasingly unclear boundaries between human and non-human, the role of MRIs as courtroom evidence, the potential influence of gender on scientific research, etc. Provides exposure to science in a dynamic relation with social life and cultural ideas. Materials draw from humanities and social science research, ethnographic fieldwork, films and science podcasts, as well as from experimental multimedia. Enrollment limited.
D. Banerjee
No textbook information available

WGS.123 History of Women in Science and Engineering
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a basic overview of the history of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Students discuss specific contributions of women across a variety of disciplines to form a broad perspective on how these contributions played a larger role in the advancement of human knowledge and technological achievement. Also grapples with how both historic and modern biases within the STEM disciplines, as well as in representations of women and girls in media and popular culture, can affect outcomes in these areas.
M. Weinstock

WGS.125[J] Games and Culture
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21W.768[J], CMS.616[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.868)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of digital games. Topics include the culture of gameplay, gaming styles, communities, spectatorship and performance, gender and race within digital gaming, and the politics and economics of production processes, including co-creation and intellectual property. Students taking graduate version complete additional readings and assignments.
T.L. Taylor

WGS.130[J] Afrofuturism, Magical Realism, and Other Otherwise Worlds
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21L.032[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines Afrofuturism, magical realism, and other forms of the fantastic in literary texts, film, and other media. Through close reading and attention to historical, cultural, and sociopolitical context, students consider how these works reinterpret the past, diagnose modernity, and posit alternative futures. Particular attention given to the roles race, gender, class, and sexuality play within these radically imaginative worlds. Topics vary from term to term but might include work by Octavia Butler, Gabriel García Márquez, Samuel Delany, Toni Morrison, N.K. Jemisin, José María Arguedas, and Janelle Monáe. Limited to 18.
J. Terrones

WGS.137[J] Intersectionality, Neurodiversity, and Disability
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as CMS.337[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (4-144)
______
Examines key theoretical concepts, texts, and other media forms by disabled and neurodivergent writers, theorists, activists, and artists. Investigates medical and social models of disability and their interconnections with race, gender, class, sexuality, age, ethnicity, etc. Uses an intersectional lens to address emerging connections between disability and the environment, investigating issues of accessibility in natural and built environments. Explores themes of visibility/invisibility, community, vulnerability, power, access, and creativity.
K. Ragusa
No textbook information available

WGS.140[J] Race and Identity in American Literature
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 21L.504[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-504j-race-and-identity-in-american-literature/
Lecture: T EVE (7-10 PM) (14E-310)
______
Questions posed by the literature of the Americas about the relationship of race and gender to authorship, audience, culture, ethnicity, and aesthetics. Social conditions and literary histories that shape the politics of identity in American literature. Specific focus varies each term. Previously taught topics include Immigrant Stories, African American Literature, and Asian American Literature. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if the content differs.
S. Alexandre
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

WGS.141[J] International Women's Voices
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.022[J], 21L.522[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-048j-international-womens-voices/
______
Introduces students to a variety of fictional works by contemporary women writers. International perspective emphasizes the extent to which each author's work reflects her distinct cultural heritage and to what extent, if any, there is an identifiable female voice that transcends national boundaries. Uses a variety of interpretive perspectives, including sociohistorical, psychoanalytic, and feminist criticism, to examine texts. Authors include Mariama Ba, Isabel Allende, Anita Desai, Maxine Hong Kingston, Toni Morrison, Doris Lessing, Alifa Riyaat, Yang Jiang, Nawal Al-Saadawi, and Sawako Ariyoshi. Taught in English.
Staff

WGS.142[J] Narrative and Identity: Writing and Film by Contemporary Women of Color
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21L.429[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the diverse voices and experiences reflected in writing and film by and about women of color. Examines the roles that culture, community, and kinship play in the development of the writer's individual voice, and compares the similarities and differences of the writer experience across texts and genres. Discussion and assignments, including an independent research presentation, consider the social and political contexts that inform each work, with an emphasis on gender, race, and economic status. Includes works by a variety of novelists, poets, and filmmakers.
Staff

WGS.145[J] Globalization: The Good, the Bad and the In-Between
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21L.020[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the cultural paradoxes of contemporary globalization. Studies the cultural, artistic, social and political impact of globalization across international borders. Students analyze contending definitions of globalization and principal agents of change, and why some of them engender backlash; identify the agents, costs and benefits of global networks; and explore how world citizens preserve cultural specificity. Case studies on global health, human trafficking and labor migration illuminate the shaping influence of contemporary globalization on gender, race, ethnicity, and class. Develops cultural literacy through analysis of fiction and film. Enrollment limited.
M. Resnick

WGS.150[J] Cultures of Popular Music in East Asia: Japan, Korea, China
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.095[J], 21M.297[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.595)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores a variety of music cultures in contemporary East Asia. Emphasizes examples from Japan, but forays elsewhere, including South Korea and China. Uses writings, videos, and recordings of musical performances, events, and objects in a variety of contexts to better understand how the concept of culture gives insight into gender, class, sexuality, race, ethnicity, nationhood, and individual identities. Explores ethnographic approaches to musical cultures with a focus on the last thirty years. Topics include Japanese hip-hop, K-Pop idols, Vocaloids (virtual idols), Chinese popular music and protest, street music, streaming and online distribution for global music, and experimental music. Students conduct ethnographic fieldwork and produce sonic presentations. No music experience nor technical expertise required. Taught in English.
I. Condry

WGS.151 Gender and Public Health
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Draws on different disciplines, conceptual frameworks, and methodological approaches to examine gender in relation to health, including public health practice, epidemiologic research, health policy, and clinical application. Discusses a variety of health-related issues that illustrate global, international, domestic, and historical perspectives. Considers other social determinants of health as well, including social class and race. Limited to 15.
Staff

WGS.154[J] Gender and Japanese Popular Culture
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21A.143[J], 21G.039[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.591)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines relationships between identity and participation in Japanese popular culture as a way of understanding the changing character of media, capitalism, fan communities, and culture. Emphasizes contemporary popular culture and theories of gender, sexuality, race, and the workings of power and value in global culture industries. Topics include manga (comic books), hip-hop and other popular music, anime and feature films, video games, contemporary literature, and online communication. Students present analyses and develop a final project based on a particular aspect of gender and popular culture. Several films screened outside of regular class meeting times. Taught in English.
I. Condry

WGS.160[J] Science Activism: Gender, Race, and Power
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Elective
(Same subject as STS.021[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the role scientists have played as activists in social movements in the US following World War II. Themes include scientific responsibility and social justice, the motivation of individual scientists, strategies for organizing, the significance of race and gender, and scientists' impact within social movements. Case studies include atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons and the nuclear freeze campaign, climate science and environmental justice, the civil rights movement, Vietnam War protests, the March 4 movement at MIT, and concerns about genetic engineering, gender equality, intersectional feminism, and student activism at MIT.
E. Bertschinger

WGS.161[J] Gender and the Law in US History
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.320[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the legal history of the US as a gendered system. Examines how women have shaped the meanings of American citizenship through pursuit of political rights such as suffrage, jury duty, and military service, as well as how the legal system has shaped gender relations through regulation of such issues as marriage, divorce, work, reproduction, and the family. Readings draw from primary and secondary materials, focusing on the broad historical relationship between law and society. No legal knowledge is required or assumed.
C. Capozzola

WGS.167[J] Advanced Identity Representation
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as CMS.628[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.828)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies and develops computational identity systems for games, social media, virtual worlds, and computer-based artwork. An interdisciplinary set of readings (cognitive science, computer science, art, and sociology) looks at both the underlying technology and the social/cultural aspects of identity. Includes topics such as developing improved characters, avatars, agents, social networking profiles, and online accounts. Engages students in on-going research projects. Explores how social categories are formed in digital media, including gender, class, and ethnicity, along with everyday social categories (such as those based on personality or shared media preferences). Experience required in one of the following: computer programming, graphic design, web development, interaction design, or social science research methods. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

WGS.172[J] For Love and Money: Rethinking the Family
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.111[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (1-135) +final
______
Cross-cultural case studies introduce students to the anthropological study of the social institutions and symbolic meanings of family, gender, and sexuality. Investigates the different forms families and households take and considers their social, emotional, and economic dynamics. Analyzes how various expectations for, and experiences of, family life are rooted in or challenged by particular conceptions of gender and sexuality. Addresses questions surrounding what it means to be a "man" or a "woman," as well as a family member, in different social contexts.
H. Arain
No required or recommended textbooks

WGS.181[J] Queer Cinema and Visual Culture
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as CMS.481[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Analyzes mainstream, popular films produced in the post-WWII 20th century US as cultural texts that shed light on ongoing historical struggles over gender identity and appropriate sexual behaviors. Traces the history of LGBTQ/queer film through the 20th and into the 21st century. Examines the effect of the Hollywood Production Code and censorship of sexual themes and content, and the subsequent subversion of queer cultural production in embedded codes and metaphors. Also considers the significance of these films as artifacts and examples of various aspects of queer theory.
Staff

WGS.183 Feminism and Data
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Considers the implications of new technologies and their impact on how we receive and transmit various types of data: medical, genetic, financial, personal. Data is being generated in many ways from our physical bodies, and this form of "datafication" has far-reaching implications, particularly for historically marginalized and/or oppressed bodies, which are often subject to sexual objectification, surveillance, and other forms of control.
Staff

WGS.190[J] Black Matters: Introduction to Black Studies
______

Undergrad (Spring) Arts + Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 24.912[J], 21H.106[J], 21L.008[J], 21W.741[J], CMS.150[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T2-5 (E15-335)
______
Interdisciplinary survey of people of African descent that draws on the overlapping approaches of history, literature, anthropology, legal studies, media studies, performance, linguistics, and creative writing. Connects the experiences of African-Americans and of other American minorities, focusing on social, political, and cultural histories, and on linguistic patterns. Includes lectures, discussions, workshops, and required field trips that involve minimal cost to students.
M. DeGraff, D. Fox Harrell, D. Wood
No textbook information available

WGS.220[J] Women and Gender in the Middle East and North Africa
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21A.138[J], 21H.263[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: F10-1 (2-103)
______
Provides an overview of key issues and themes in the study of women and gender relations in the Middle East and North Africa. Includes readings from a variety of disciplines, e.g., history, anthropology, sociology, literature, religious studies, and media studies. Addresses themes such as the relationship between the concepts of nation and gender; women's citizenship; Middle Eastern women's activism and the involvement of their Western "sisters" to this movement; gendered interpretations of the Qur'an and the example of the Prophet Muhammad; and the three H's of Orientalism (hijab, harem, and hamam).
L. Eckmekcioglu
No textbook information available

WGS.222[J] Women and War
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21H.381[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines women's experiences during and after war and genocide, covering the first half of the 20th century in Europe and the Middle East. Addresses ways in which women's wartime suffering has been used to further a variety of political and social agendas. Discussions focus on a different topic each week, such as sexual violence, women survivors, female perpetrators of genocide, nurses, children of genocidal rape, and the memory of war.
L. Ekmekcioglu

WGS.224 Race, Gender and Social Inequality in Reproductive Health Care
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the politics of reproductive health care delivery in the United States and beyond, with a particular focus on how clinical care is shaped by--and, in turn, shapes--social inequality along axes of race and gender. Considers a variety of reproductive health issues from multiple perspectives, drawing on readings from the fields of history, anthropology, sociology, medicine, epidemiology, and law. Develops skills to interrogate how each field conceptualizes and values reproductive health, both explicitly and implicitly. Introduces major conceptual issues foundational to understanding the politics of reproduction. Goes on to cover topics such as the human biofemale reproductive lifecycle and social movements explicitly organized around reproductive health. Limited to 40.
Staff

WGS.225[J] The Science of Race, Sex, and Gender
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.103[J], STS.046[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the role of science and medicine in the origins and evolution of the concepts of race, sex, and gender from the 17th century to the present. Focus on how biological, anthropological, and medical concepts intersect with social, cultural, and political ideas about racial, sexual, and gender difference in the US and globally. Approach is historical and comparative across disciplines emphasizing the different modes of explanation and use of evidence in each field.
A. Sur

WGS.226[J] Science, Gender and Social Inequality in the Developing World
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as STS.023[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the influence of social and cultural determinants (colonialism, nationalism, class, and gender) on modern science and technology. Discusses the relationship of scientific progress to colonial expansions and nationalist aspirations. Explores the nature of scientific institutions within a social, cultural, and political context, and how science and technology have impacted developing societies
A. Sur

WGS.228 Psychology of Sex and Gender
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines evidence (and lack thereof) regarding when and how an individual's thoughts, feelings, and actions are affected by sex and gender. Using a biopsychosocial model, reviews the following topics: gender identity development across the lifespan, implicit and explicit bias, achievement, stereotypes, physical and mental health, sexuality, interpersonal relationships, work, and violence. Limited to 20.
C. Kapungu

WGS.229 Race, Culture, and Gender in the US and Beyond: A Psychological Perspective
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: R EVE (7-10 PM) (14E-310) +final
______
Examines the biopsychosocial factors which impact racial-ethnic identity, racial and cultural socialization, and experiences of prejudice, bias, discrimination, and racial microaggressions across gender identities. Reviews topics in multicultural psychology from the lens of challenging ethnocentric biases in the field. Critically evaluates the intersection of race with other social identities (e.g., gender, sexual identity, and socioeconomic status) and how it impacts human behavior. Using a case study approach, students integrate empirical evidence from international psychosocial research on oppression in order to provide more breadth in understanding the influence of race and gender upon human behavior. Develops multicultural competency skills essential for practice in clinical and non-clinical organizational settings. Limited to 25.
C. Kapungu
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

WGS.231[J] Writing about Race
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21W.742[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
The issue of race and racial identity have preoccupied many writers throughout the history of the US. Students read Jessica Abel, Diana Abu-Jaber, Lynda Barry, Felicia Luna Lemus, James McBride, Sigrid Nunez, Ruth Ozeki, Danzy Senna, Gloria Anzaldua, Judith Ortiz Cofer, Carmit Delman, Stefanie Dunning, Cherrie Moraga, Hiram Perez and others, and consider the story of race in its peculiarly American dimensions. The reading, along with the writing of members of the class, is the focus of class discussions. Oral presentations on subjects of individual interest are also part of the class activities. Students explore race and ethnicity in personal essays, pieces of cultural criticism or analysis, or (with permission of instructor) fiction. All written work is read and responded to in class workshops and subsequently revised. Enrollment limited.
B. Williams

WGS.233[J] New Culture of Gender: Queer France
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.325[J], 21L.324[J])
Prereq: One intermediate subject in French
Units: 3-0-9
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Addresses the place of contemporary queer identities in French discourse. Discusses the new generation of queer authors and their principal concerns. Introduces students to the main classical references of queer subcultures, from Proust and Vivien to Hocquenghem and Wittig. Examines current debates on post-colonial and globalized queer identities through essays, songs, movies, and novels. Authors include Didier Eribon, Anne Garréta, Abdellah Taïa, Anne Scott, and Nina Bouraoui. Taught in French.
B. Perreau

WGS.235[J] Classics of Chinese Literature in Translation
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.044[J], 21L.494[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.195)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to some of the major genres of traditional Chinese poetry, fiction, and drama. Intended to give students a basic understanding of the central features of traditional Chinese literary genres, as well as to introduce students to the classic works of the Chinese literary tradition. Works read include Journey to the West, Outlaws of the Margin, Dream of the Red Chamber, and the poetry of the major Tang dynasty poets. Literature read in translation. Taught in English.
W. Denecke

WGS.236[J] Introduction to East Asian Cultures: From Zen to K-Pop
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21G.030[J])
(Subject meets with 21G.193)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (14E-310)
______
Examines traditional forms of East Asian culture (including literature, art, performance, food, and religion) as well as contemporary forms of popular culture (film, pop music, karaoke, and manga). Covers China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, with an emphasis on China. Considers women's culture, as well as the influence and presence of Asian cultural expressions in the US. Uses resources in the Boston area, including the MFA, the Children's Museum, and the Sackler collection at Harvard. Taught in English.
E. Teng
No required or recommended textbooks

WGS.238[J] Intersectional Feminist Memoir
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21L.438[J], 21W.738[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (4-146)
______
Explores the memoir genre through a feminist intersectional lens, looking at the ways in which feminist writers ground personal experience within a complex understanding of race, gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity, immigration status/nationality, and dis/ablity. Gives particular attention to the relationships between the personal and the political; form and content; fact, truth, and imagination; self and community; trauma and healing; coming to voice and breaking silence. Readings include books by Audre Lorde, Janet Mock, Daisy Hernandez, Jessica Valenti, and Ariel Gore, and shorter pieces by Meena Alexander and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha. Drawing on lessons taken from these works, students write a short memoir of their own.
Fall: Brianna Williams
Spring: Brianna Williams
No textbook information available

WGS.240[J] Jane Austen
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21L.473[J])
Prereq: One subject in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
______
An examination of Jane Austen's satire in her seven complete novels, several fragments, and juvenilia. Students read these texts in relation to her letters and other biographical and historical information.
R. Perry

WGS.242 The Latina Experience in Literature, Film and Popular Culture
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the rich diversity of Latina and Latino voices and experiences as reflected in various media. Studies cross-cultural expressions of solidarity and examines the Latina experience as it relates to both other women of color and Latino men. Considers how Latinas are represented by mainstream Hollywood and independent filmmakers, and explores the intersections of popular culture and feminism in productions such as music videos and Latina-centered television series. Limited to 30.
Staff

WGS.243 Topics in Gender, Data, and Design
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores how city design and planning impact communities, through the lens of data activism. Students develop, implement, and evaluate digital tools that support community-based organizations, addressing diverse domains such as housing, violence prevention, and environmental health. Through interactions with relevant organizations, students interpret data and explore how issues of gender, race, sexuality, disability, and other identities impact how policies, technology, and activism are employed. Specific topics vary but may include data activism in social change, production of activist data, potential pitfalls of AI, and machine learning. Prior experience with coding, visualization, mapping/GIS, or data analysis helpful but not required. May be repeated once for credit if specific topics studied differ.
Staff

WGS.245[J] Identities and Intersections: Queer Literatures
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21L.480[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on LGBT literature from the mid-19 century to the present, with an emphasis on fiction and poetry. In particular, analyzes how LGBT identities and their literary representations have changed over time. Covers authors such as Walt Whitman, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Cherrie Moraga, Melvin Dixon, Leslie Feinberg, and Luis Negron.
J. Terrones

WGS.247[J] Race, Place, and Modernity in the Americas
______

Undergrad (IAP) HASS Elective
(Same subject as 11.047[J], 21L.592[J], 21W.781[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-3
______
Students travel to São Paulo for three weeks. Examines the relationship between race and place in the formation of modern Brazil and the US through comparative analysis and interdisciplinary study. In addition to participating in class discussions on literature, film, and visual art, students visit key cultural and historical sites; interact with archives and museum collections; and, most importantly, engage in dialogue with local activists, religious leaders, community organizers, and scholars. Focusing on the work of Black and Indigenous people, particularly women, places a strong emphasis on the ways in which art and cultural activism can have an impact on racial justice issues. Taught in English; no Portuguese needed. Contact Women's and Gender Studies about travel fee, possible funding opportunities, and other details. Enrollment limited to 20. Application required.
J. Terrones
No textbook information available

WGS.250[J] HIV/AIDS in American Culture
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21L.481[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines cultural responses to HIV/AIDS in the US during the first fifteen years of the epidemic, prior to the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Students consider how sexuality, race, gender, class, and geography shaped the experience of HIV/AIDS and the cultural production surrounding it, as well as the legacy of this cultural production as it pertains to the communities most at risk today. Materials include mainstream press coverage, film, theater, television, popular music, comic books, literature, and visual art.
J. Terrones

WGS.255[J] Gender, Myth, and Magic
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21W.725[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores ways contemporary writers re-imagine myth and fairy tales through lens of gender and sexuality. Examines how old stories can be retold to resonate with issues of power, violence, courage, resistance, identity, community, silence, and voice. Students complete writing project where they re-imagine a myth or fairy tale.
K. Ragusa

WGS.260[J] Topics in Queer Studies
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21L.482[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (56-167)
______
Develops critical understanding of queer theory through foundational and contemporary texts and other media forms. Examines relationships between queer theory and other social and cultural theories that probe and critique power, privilege, and normativity including critical race theory, transgender studies, feminist theory, and disability theory. Topics may include social movements, queer of color critiques, transnational activisms, and transgender politics. 
Arain, Hafsa
No required or recommended textbooks

WGS.264[J] Sport as Performance
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21T.240[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Seminar investigates the aesthetics of sport as theatrical performance and explores the performance of race, gender, class, nation, and sexuality in sport. Readings drawn from theatre/performance studies, anthropology, sociology, ethnic studies, gender studies, history, and kinesiology. Topics include barnstorming, Olympics, Title IX, Native American mascots, and a variety of sports ranging from football to figure skating. Limited to 18.
C. Conceison

WGS.271[J] Dilemmas in Biomedical Ethics: Playing God or Doing Good?
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 11.133[J], 21A.302[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
An introduction to the cross-cultural study of biomedical ethics. Examines moral foundations of the science and practice of western biomedicine through case studies of abortion, contraception, cloning, organ transplantation and other issues. Evaluates challenges that new medical technologies pose to the practice and availability of medical services around the globe, and to cross-cultural ideas of kinship and personhood. Discusses critiques of the biomedical tradition from anthropological, feminist, legal, religious, and cross-cultural theorists.
Staff

WGS.274[J] Images of Asian Women: Dragon Ladies and Lotus Blossoms
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.141[J], 21G.048[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores some of the forces and mechanisms through which stereotypes are built and perpetuated. In particular, examines stereotypes associated with Asian women in colonial, nationalist, state-authoritarian, and global/diasporic narratives about gender and power. Students read ethnography, fiction, and history, and view films to examine the politics and circumstances that create and perpetuate the representation of Asian women as dragon ladies, lotus blossoms, despotic tyrants, desexualized servants, and docile subordinates. Students are introduced to debates about Orientalism, gender, and power.
M. Buyandelger

WGS.275[J] Gender, Race, and Environmental Justice
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.407[J], 21G.057[J], STS.022[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to the analysis of gender in science, technology, and environmental politics from a global perspective. Familiarizes students with central objects, questions, and methods in the field. Examines existent critiques of the racial, sexual and environmental politics at stake in techno-scientific cultures. Draws on material from popular culture, media, fiction, film, and ethnography. Addressing specific examples from across the globe, students also explore different approaches to build more livable environments that promote social justice. Taught in English. Limited to 18.
B. Stoetzer

WGS.276[J] Cultures of Computing
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.504[J], STS.086[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://anthropology.mit.edu/21A.504J_STS.086J_WGS.276J_Cultures_of_Computing_Spring_2024
______
Examines computers anthropologically, as artifacts revealing the social orders and cultural practices that create them. Students read classic texts in computer science along with cultural analyses of computing history and contemporary configurations. Explores the history of automata, automation and capitalist manufacturing; cybernetics and WWII operations research; artificial intelligence and gendered subjectivity; robots, cyborgs, and artificial life; creation and commoditization of the personal computer; the growth of the Internet as a military, academic, and commercial project; hackers and gamers; technobodies and virtual sociality. Emphasis is placed on how ideas about gender and other social differences shape labor practices, models of cognition, hacking culture, and social media.
D. Banerjee

WGS.277[J] D-Lab: Gender and Development
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as EC.718[J])
(Subject meets with EC.798)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores gender roles, illuminates the power dynamics and root causes of inequality, and provides a framework for understanding gender dynamics. Develops skills to conduct a gender analysis and integrate gender-sensitive strategies into large- and small-scale development solutions. Prompts critical discussion about social, economic, and political conditions that shape gender in development. Begins with exploration of international development in the post-colonial era, using a gender lens, then provides students with the tools to integrate gender-sensitive strategies into international development work, with a particular focus on launching, building and scaling women's ventures. Opportunities may be available for international fieldwork over IAP. Meets with 24.234 when offered concurrently. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 12; must attend first class session.
E. McDonald, S. Haslanger

WGS.278 Topics in Critical Disability Studies
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines various intersections of health and disability studies within a framework of gender and sexuality studies, critical race theory, geography, decolonized psychology, and cultural studies. Topics vary each year; examples include carceral states, social categorizations of populations, historical and literary studies, and healthcare.
Arain, Hafsa

WGS.280[J] Critical Internet Studies
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21W.791[J], CMS.614[J])
(Subject meets with IDS.405)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W2-5 (56-169)
______
Focuses on the power dynamics in internet-related technologies (including social networking platforms, surveillance technology, entertainment technologies, and emerging media forms). Theories and readings focus on the cultural, social, economic, and political aspects of internet use and design, with a special attention to gender and race. Topics include: online communication and communities, algorithms and search engines, activism and online resistance, surveillance and privacy, content moderation and platform governance, and the spread of dis- and misinformation. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Students taking the graduate version complete additional readings and assignments.
T. L. Taylor
No required or recommended textbooks

WGS.285[J] Modern Drama
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 21L.486[J], 21T.244[J])
Prereq: One subject in Literature
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://lit.mit.edu/21l-486-modern-drama/
______
Explores major modern plays with special attention to performance, sociopolitical and aesthetic contexts, and the role of theater in the contemporary multimedial landscape. Includes analysis of class, gender, and race as modes of performance. Typically features Beckett and Brecht, as well as some of the following playwrights: Chekov, Churchill, Deavere Smith, Ibsen, Fornes, Friel, Kushner, O'Neill, Shaw, Stoppard, Soyinka, Williams, Wilson. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor if content differs.
D. Henderson

WGS.287[J] Social Justice and The Documentary Film
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21W.786[J], CMS.336[J])
(Subject meets with CMS.836)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (2-103)
______
Explores the history and current state of social-issue documentary. Examines how cultural and political upheaval and technological change have converged at different moments to bring about new waves of activist documentary film production. Particular focus on films and other non-fiction media of the present and recent past. Students screen and analyze a series of key films and work in groups to produce their own short documentary using digital video and computer-based editing. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 18.
V. Bald
No textbook information available

WGS.301[J] Feminist Thought
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 17.007[J], 24.137[J])
(Subject meets with 17.006[J], 24.637[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (66-156)
______
Analyzes theories of gender and politics, especially ideologies of gender and their construction; definitions of public and private spheres; gender issues in citizenship, the development of the welfare state, experiences of war and revolution, class formation, and the politics of sexuality. Graduate students are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
Fall: Arain, Hafsa
Spring: Arain, Hafsa
No required or recommended textbooks

WGS.303[J] Gender: Historical Perspectives
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.109[J])
(Subject meets with 21H.983[J], WGS.310[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W2-5 (4-144)
______
Examines the definition of gender in scientific, societal, and historical contexts. Explores how gender influences state formation and the work of the state, what role gender plays in imperialism and in the welfare state, the ever-present relationship between gender and war, and different states' regulation of the body in gendered ways at different times. Investigates new directions in the study of gender as historians, anthropologists and others have taken on this fascinating set of problems. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. Wood
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

WGS.310[J] Gender: Historical Perspectives
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 21H.983[J])
(Subject meets with 21H.109[J], WGS.303[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W2-5 (4-144)
______
Examines the definition of gender in scientific, societal, and historical contexts. Explores how gender influences state formation and the work of the state, what role gender plays in imperialism and in the welfare state, the ever-present relationship between gender and war, and different states' regulation of the body in gendered ways at different times. Investigates new directions in the study of gender as historians, anthropologists and others have taken on this fascinating set of problems. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. Wood
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

WGS.315[J] Colonialism in South Asia and Africa: Race, Gender, Resistance
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.358[J])
(Subject meets with 21H.958)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-10
Lecture: T11-1 (E51-390)
______
Provides a comparative perspective on the history of colonialism in India and Africa. Explores the political, social, and economic changes brought about by colonial rule. Discusses the international context for the emergence of European Imperialism in the 19th century; the nature of early colonial expansion and consolidation; the re-invention of tradition in colonial societies, especially with regard to racial and ethnic identity, gender, religion, and caste; and expressions of anti-colonial resistance. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Aiyar
No required or recommended textbooks

WGS.321[J] French Feminist Literature: Yesterday and Today
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21G.344[J], 21L.621[J])
Prereq: One intermediate subject in French or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores feminist literary voices in France throughout the ages. Discusses the theory that the power of feminist writing lies in its ability to translate dominant language into a language of one's own. Studies lifestyles, family norms, political representation, social movements, as well as the perception of the body. Investigates how feminist genealogies redefine the relationship between belonging and knowledge through a dialogue between several generations of women writers. Taught in French. Limited to 18.
B. Perreau

WGS.330[J] Abortion: Global and Interdisciplinary Perspectives
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21H.363[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Addresses topics such as the development of abortion law in the US and around the world, ethics of abortion and forcible pregnancy, pro- and anti-abortion activism, economics of abortion, and terms related to abortion, including reproductive justice, reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and fetal politics. Tackles questions including how different societies at different times have approached the question of the removal of a fetus from a human body, who are (or should be) stakeholders in making the decision to deliberately terminate a pregnancy or ban such a decision, and whether abortion was always a "question" that different groups and individuals discussed, evaluated, and regulated. Encourages students to think about this issue in historical context to help them form analytically sound arguments.
Staff

WGS.400 WGS Undergraduate Independent Study
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Individual supervised work for undergraduate students who wish to study topics not covered in the regular Women's and Gender Studies curriculum. Before registering for this subject, students must plan a course of study with a member of the WGS faculty and secure the Director's approval. Normal maximum credit is 6 units, but exceptional 9-unit projects occasionally approved.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
No textbook information available

WGS.UR Undergraduate Research in Women's and Gender Studies
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in the Women's and Gender Studies Program.
Fall: S. Lantz
IAP: S. Lantz
Spring: S. Lantz
Textbooks arranged individually

WGS.URG Undergraduate Research in Women's and Gender Studies
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in the Women's and Gender Studies Program.
Fall: S. Lantz
IAP: S. Lantz
Spring: S. Lantz
Textbooks arranged individually

WGS.S10 Special Subject in Women's and Gender Studies
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers topics not included in regular curriculum; taught in seminar format. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
Staff

WGS.S20 Special Subject in Women's and Gender Studies
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
TBA.
______
Covers topics not included in regular curriculum; taught in seminar format. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
Staff
No textbook information available

WGS.S30 Special Subject in Women's and Gender Studies
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers topics not included in regular curriculum; taught in seminar format. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
Staff

Subjects Offered by Other Programs

Each of the following may be taken for credit as a Women?s and Gender Studies (WGS) subject when its content meets WGS criteria. The full description of each subject appears with its designated Course listing. For more information, contact the program office, 14E-316, 617-253-8844, wgs@mit.edu.

21L.430 Popular Culture and Narrative
21L.460 Medieval Literature
21L.512 American Authors
21L.701 Literary Methods
21L.702 Studies in Fiction
21L.704 Studies in Poetry
21L.705 Major Authors
21L.707 Problems in Cultural Interpretation
21L.715 Media in Cultural Context
21W.745 Advanced Essay Workshop

Graduate Subjects

WGS.600 Workshop for Dissertation Writers in Women's and Gender Studies
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: Must apply to the Graduate Consortium in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T EVE (5-8 PM) (2-135)
______
Addresses the main challenges faced by dissertation writers: isolation, writing schedules, and cogent arguments. Opportunity for members to exchange ideas and experiences, learn general principles of academic argument, and receive feedback. Open to graduate students in all phases of dissertation writing. Meets bi-weekly, spans Fall and Spring terms. Limited to 10.
Fall: M. Robinson
Spring: M. Robinson
No textbook information available

WGS.605 WGS Graduate Independent Study
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Individual supervised work for graduate students who wish to study topics not covered in the regular Women's and Gender Studies offerings. Before registering for this subject, students must plan a course of study with a member of the Women's and Gender Studies faculty and secure the Director's approval. Normal maximum is 6 units; exceptional 9-unit projects occasionally approved.
Staff

WGS.610 Special Topics in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality Studies
______

Graduate (Fall, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Must apply to the Graduate Consortium in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality
Units: 3-0-9
______
Syllabi vary depending on instructors. Limited to 10.
Fall: M. Robinson
Summer: Information: Graduate Consortium in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality

WGS.615 Feminist and Queer Methods of Inquiry
______

Graduate (Spring, Summer)
Prereq: Must apply to the Graduate Consortium in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T EVE (4-7 PM) (2-132)
______
<p class="p1">This interdisciplinary course covers queer and feminist approaches to methodology (approaches to knowledge production) and methods (specific strategies such as interviews or archives) across the humanities and social sciences. Syllabi vary depending on instructors.
M. Robinson
No textbook information available

WGS.640 Topics in Transnational and Multicultural Feminisms
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Must apply to the Graduate Consortium in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: M EVE (5.30-8.30 PM) (1-134)
______
<p class="p1">An examination of topics in transnational and multicultural feminisms. Topics vary<p class="p1">from term to term. Limited to 10.
M. Robinson
No textbook information available

WGS.645 Topics in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality Studies
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Application to the Graduate Consortium in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: R EVE (5-8 PM) (36-156)
______
An examination of various topics in gender, culture, women, and sexuality studies. Syllabi vary depending on instructors.
M. Robinson
No textbook information available

WGS.680 The Economic History of Work and the Family
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the changing map of the public and the private in pre-industrial and modern societies and examines how that map affected men's and women's production and consumption of goods and leisure. The reproductive strategies of women, either in conjunction with or in opposition to their families, is another major theme. Subject asks how an ideal of the "domestic" arose in the early modern west, and to what extent did it limit the economic position of women; and how has that idea been challenged, and with what success in the post-industrial period. Focuses on western Europe since the Middle Ages and on the United States, but also examines how these issues have played themselves out in non-Western cultures. Graduate students are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
Staff

WGS.700 Feminist and Queer Theories
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: Must apply to the Graduate Consortium in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality
Units: 3-0-9
TBA.
______
An interdisciplinary seminar aiming to familiarize students with the core texts and key debates that have shaped feminist and queer theories. Syllabi vary depending on instructors.
Fall: M. Robinson
Spring: M. Robinson
No textbook information available


left arrow | WGS | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 22: Nuclear Science and Engineering
IAP/Spring 2025


Undergraduate Subjects

22.00 Introduction to Modeling and Simulation
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.021, 3.021, 10.333, 22.00)
Prereq: 18.03 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR3-4.30 (4-231) Recitation: W3 (4-153)
______
Basic concepts of computer modeling and simulation in science and engineering. Uses techniques and software for simulation, data analysis and visualization. Continuum, mesoscale, atomistic and quantum methods used to study fundamental and applied problems in physics, chemistry, materials science, mechanics, engineering, and biology. Examples drawn from the disciplines above are used to understand or characterize complex structures and materials, and complement experimental observations.
M. Buehler, A. Hoffman
No textbook information available

22.001 Introduction to Undergraduate Research I
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: R4 (24-112)
______
Provides instruction in communication and basic research skills needed for effective undergraduate research. Addresses a wide range of communication, from within the research group to formal papers and presentations. Basic research skills include time management, building strong relationships with research advisors and lab groups, and cultivating the habit of regular self-reflection. Current participation in a UROP within the Nuclear Science and Engineering Department or Plasma Science and Fusion Center is strongly recommended. Limited to 25. Preference to students accepted into the FUSars program, followed by students UROPing on any nuclear-related project.
R. Shulman
No required or recommended textbooks

22.002 Introduction to Undergraduate Research II
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 22.001
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Instruction in formal communications for undergraduate research, particularly preparing journal manuscripts. Students practice self-reflection and motivation skills to enable independent research. Provides foundation to build and maintain professional networks. Current participation in a UROP within the Nuclear Science and Engineering Department or Plasma Science and Fusion Center with one term of prior experience is strongly recommended. Limit to 25. Preference to students accepted into the FUSars program, followed by students UROPing on any nuclear-related project.
R. Shulman

22.003 NEET Seminar: Renewable Energy Machines
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
Lecture: T EVE (7 PM) (3-001)
______
Seminar for students enrolled in the Renewable Energy Machines NEET thread. Focuses on topics around renewable energy via guest lectures and research discussions.
Fall: N. Melenbrink
Spring: N. Melenbrink
No required or recommended textbooks

22.01 Introduction to Nuclear Engineering and Ionizing Radiation
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: None
Units: 3-1-8
______
Provides an introduction to fundamental concepts in nuclear science and its engineering applications. Describes basic nuclear structure, radioactivity, nuclear reactions, and kinematics. Covers the interaction of ionizing radiation with matter, emphasizing radiation detection, shielding, and radiation effects on human health and materials. Presents energy systems based on fission and fusion nuclear reactions, as well as industrial and medical applications of nuclear science.
E. Jossou

22.011 Nuclear Engineering: Science, Systems, and Society
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Discusses the field of nuclear science and engineering, including technologies essential to combating climate change and ensuring human health and well-being. Introduces and provides beginner-level experience with programming, radiation, detection, nuclear physics, and nuclear engineering. Students work on projects such as building radiation-sensing robots to navigate a maze of radioactive sources using autonomous navigation via machine learning. No previous experience with electronics, building robots, programming, or nuclear science required. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Limited to 20. Preference to first-year undergraduates.
Staff

22.015 Radiation and Life: Applications of Radiation Sources in Medicine, Research, and Industry
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-0 [P/D/F]
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Introduces students to the basics of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation; radiation safety and protection; and an overview of the variety of health physics applications, especially as it pertains to the medical field and to radioactive materials research in academia. Presents basic physics of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, known effects of the human body, and the techniques to measure those effects. Common radiation-based medical imaging techniques and therapies discussed. Projects, demonstrations, and experiments introduce students to standard techniques and practices in typical medical and MIT research lab environments where radiation is used. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Limited to 10. Preference to first-year students.
Staff

22.016 Seminar in Fusion and Plasma Physics
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
______
Discusses the challenges and opportunities on the path to fusion energy through a range of plasma and fusion energy topics, including discussion of the global energy picture, basic plasma physics, the physics of fusion, fusion reactors, tokamaks, and inertial confinement facilities. Covers why nuclear science, computer science, and materials are so important for fusion, and how students can take next steps to study fusion while at MIT. Includes tours of laboratories at the Plasma Science and Fusion Center. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Limited to 20. Preference to first years and sophomores majoring in Course 22.
E. Peterson

22.017 Nuclear in the News
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Covers the state of nuclear energy and technologies in popular media and current events. Topics include: modern-day Chernobyl, advances in fission reactor building, and the corporate use of fusion devices. Discussions guided by student interest and questions. Includes presentations by expert faculty in nuclear science and engineering. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students.
Staff

22.02 Introduction to Applied Nuclear Physics
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: MW9.30-11 (24-121) Recitation: F2-4 (24-115)
______
Covers basic concepts of nuclear physics with emphasis on nuclear structure and interactions of radiation with matter. Topics include elementary quantum theory; nuclear forces; shell structure of the nucleus; alpha, beta and gamma radioactive decays; interactions of nuclear radiations (charged particles, gammas, and neutrons) with matter; nuclear reactions; fission and fusion.
M. Li
No required or recommended textbooks

22.022 Quantum Technology and Devices
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 8.751[J], 22.51[J])
Prereq: 8.04, 22.02, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the unique features of quantum theory to generate technologies with capabilities beyond any classical device. Introduces fundamental concepts in applied quantum mechanics, tools and applications of quantum technology, with a focus on quantum information processing beyond quantum computation. Includes discussion of quantum devices and experimental platforms drawn from active research in academia and industry. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

22.03[J] Introduction to Design Thinking and Rapid Prototyping
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 3.0061[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-2-2
______
Focuses on design thinking, an iterative process that uses divergent and convergent thinking to approach design problems and prototype and test solutions. Includes experiences in creativity, problem scoping, and rapid prototyping skills. Skills are built over the course of the semester through design exercises and projects. Enrollment limited; preference to Course 22 & Course 3 majors and minors, and NEET students.
N. Melenbrink

22.033 Nuclear Systems Design Project
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 22.33)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-12
______
Group design project involving integration of nuclear physics, particle transport, control, heat transfer, safety, instrumentation, materials, environmental impact, and economic optimization. Provides opportunity to synthesize knowledge acquired in nuclear and non-nuclear subjects and apply this knowledge to practical problems of current interest in nuclear applications design. Past projects have included using a fusion reactor for transmutation of nuclear waste, design and implementation of an experiment to predict and measure pebble flow in a pebble bed reactor, and development of a mission plan for a manned Mars mission including the conceptual design of a nuclear powered space propulsion system and power plant for the Mars surface, a lunar/Martian nuclear power station and the use of nuclear plants to extract oil from tar sands. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Short

22.039 Integration of Reactor Design, Operations, and Safety
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 22.39)
Prereq: 22.05 and 22.06
Units: 3-2-7
______
Covers the integration of reactor physics and engineering sciences into nuclear power plant design, focusing on designs projected to be used in the first half of this century. Topics include materials issues in plant design and operations, aspects of thermal design, fuel depletion and fission-product poisoning, and temperature effects on reactivity. Addresses safety considerations in regulations and operations, such as the evolution of the regulatory process, the concept of defense in depth, general design criteria, accident analysis, probabilistic risk assessment, and risk-informed regulations.  Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. Baglietto

22.04[J] Social Problems of Nuclear Energy
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as STS.084[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys the major social challenges for nuclear energy. Topics include the ability of nuclear power to help mitigate climate change; challenges associated with ensuring nuclear safety; the effects of nuclear accidents; the management of nuclear waste; the linkages between nuclear power and nuclear weapons, the consequences of nuclear war; and political challenges to the safe and economic regulation of the nuclear industry. Weekly readings presented from both sides of the debate, followed by in-class discussions. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Limited to 18.
R. Kemp

22.05 Neutron Science and Reactor Physics
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: 18.03, 22.01, and (1.000, 2.086, 6.100B, or 12.010)
Units: 5-0-7
______
Introduces fundamental properties of the neutron. Covers reactions induced by neutrons, nuclear fission, slowing down of neutrons in infinite media, diffusion theory, the few-group approximation, point kinetics, and fission-product poisoning. Emphasizes the nuclear physics bases of reactor design and its relationship to reactor engineering problems.
W. Kendrick

22.051 Systems Analysis of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 22.251)
Prereq: 22.05
Units: 3-2-7
______
Studies the relationship between technical and policy elements of the nuclear fuel cycle. Topics include uranium supply, enrichment, fuel fabrication, in-core reactivity and fuel management of uranium and other fuel types, used fuel reprocessing, and waste disposal. Presents principles of fuel cycle economics and the applied reactor physics of both contemporary and proposed thermal and fast reactors. Examines nonproliferation aspects, disposal of excess weapons plutonium, and transmutation of long lived radioisotopes in spent fuel. Several state-of-the-art computer programs relevant to reactor core physics and heat transfer are provided for student use in problem sets and term papers.  Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
H. Wainwright

22.052 Quantum Theory of Materials Characterization
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 22.52)
Prereq: 8.231 or 22.02
Units: 3-0-9
______
Holistic theoretical foundation of characterization techniques with photons, electrons, and neutron probes in various spaces. Techniques for assessing real space, reciprocal space, energy space, and time space utilizing microscopy, diffraction, spectroscopy, and time-domain methods. Elucidation of microscopic interaction mechanisms of materials. Practical assessment of what each characterization measures, methods for linking experimental features to microscopic materials information, state of the art methods for combining information, and machine learning aids. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Li

22.054[J] Materials Performance in Extreme Environments
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 3.154[J])
Prereq: 3.013 and 3.044
Units: 3-2-7
______
Studies the behavior of materials in extreme environments typical of those in which advanced energy systems (including fossil, nuclear, solar, fuel cells, and battery) operate. Takes both a science and engineering approach to understanding how current materials interact with their environment under extreme conditions. Explores the role of modeling and simulation in understanding material behavior and the design of new materials. Focuses on energy and transportation related systems.
Staff

22.055 Radiation Biophysics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 22.55[J], HST.560[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a background in sources of radiation with an emphasis on terrestrial and space environments and on industrial production. Discusses experimental approaches to evaluating biological effects resulting from irradiation regimes differing in radiation type, dose and dose-rate. Effects at the molecular, cellular, organism, and population level are examined. Literature is reviewed identifying gaps in our understanding of the health effects of radiation, and responses of regulatory bodies to these gaps is discussed. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

22.06 Engineering of Nuclear Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 2.005
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (24-121) Recitation: F11 (24-112)
______
Using the basic principles of reactor physics, thermodynamics, fluid flow and heat transfer, students examine the engineering design of nuclear power plants. Emphasizes light-water reactor technology, thermal limits in nuclear fuels, thermal-hydraulic behavior of the coolant, nuclear safety and dynamic response of nuclear power plants.
M. Bucci
No required or recommended textbooks

22.061 Fusion Energy
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: 22.01 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-1-7
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (24-112) Lab: T3 (24-112)
______
Surveys the fundamental science and engineering required to generate energy from controlled nuclear fusion. Topics include nuclear physics governing fusion fuel choice and fusion reactivity, physical conditions required to achieve net fusion energy, plasma physics of magnetic confinement, overview of fusion energy concepts, material challenges in fusion systems, superconducting magnet engineering, and fusion power conversion to electricity. Includes in-depth visits at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center and active learning laboratories to reinforce lecture topics.
Z. Hartwig
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

22.071 Analog Electronics and Analog Instrumentation Design
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 18.03
Units: 3-3-6
______
Presents the basics of analog electronics, covering everything from basic resistors to non-linear devices such as diodes and transistors. Students build amplifiers with op amps and study the behavior of first- and second-order oscillating circuits. Lectures followed by short laboratory exercises reinforce theoretical knowledge with experiments. Includes project in second half of the term in which students design radiation instruments of their choice (e.g. Geiger radiation counters, or other types of sensors and instruments). Teaches use of Arduino microcontrollers as simple data acquisition systems, allowing for real-time data processing and display. Culminates in student presentations of their designs in an open forum. Limited to 20.
Staff

22.072 Corrosion: The Environmental Degradation of Materials
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 22.72)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Applies thermodynamics and kinetics of electrode reactions to aqueous corrosion of metals and alloys. Application of advanced computational and modeling techniques to evaluation of materials selection and susceptibility of metal/alloy systems to environmental degradation in aqueous systems. Discusses materials degradation problems in marine environments, oil and gas production, and energy conversion and generation systems, including fossil and nuclear.  Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. 
Staff

22.074 Radiation Damage and Effects in Nuclear Materials
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.31[J], 22.74[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies the origins and effects of radiation damage in structural materials for nuclear applications. Radiation damage topics include formation of point defects, defect diffusion, defect reaction kinetics and accumulation, and differences in defect microstructures due to the type of radiation (ion, proton, neutron). Radiation effects topics include detrimental changes to mechanical properties, phase stability, corrosion properties, and differences in fission and fusion systems. Term project required. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

22.078[J] Nuclear Energy and the Environment: Waste, Effluents, and Accidents
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.098[J])
(Subject meets with 1.878[J], 22.78[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (24-115) +final
______
Introduces the essential knowledge for understanding nuclear waste management. Includes material flow sheets for nuclear fuel cycle, waste characteristics, sources of radioactive wastes, compositions, radioactivity and heat generation, chemical processing technologies, geochemistry, waste disposal technologies, environmental regulations and the safety assessment of waste disposal. Covers different types of wastes: uranium mining waste, low-level radioactive waste, high-level radioactive waste and fusion waste. Provides the quantitative methods to compare the environmental impact of different nuclear and other energy-associated waste. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
H. Wainwright
No required or recommended textbooks

22.081[J] Introduction to Sustainable Energy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.650[J], 10.291[J])
(Subject meets with 1.818[J], 2.65[J], 10.391[J], 11.371[J], 22.811[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
______
Assessment of current and potential future energy systems. Covers resources, extraction, conversion, and end-use technologies, with emphasis on meeting 21st-century regional and global energy needs in a sustainable manner. Examines various renewable and conventional energy production technologies, energy end-use practices and alternatives, and consumption practices in different countries. Investigates their attributes within a quantitative analytical framework for evaluation of energy technology system proposals. Emphasizes analysis of energy propositions within an engineering, economic and social context. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to juniors and seniors.
Staff

22.09 Principles of Nuclear Radiation Measurement and Protection
______

Undergrad (Fall) Institute Lab
(Subject meets with 22.90)
Prereq: 22.01
Units: 1-5-9
______
Combines lectures, demonstrations, and experiments. Review of radiation protection procedures and regulations; theory and use of alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron detectors; applications in imaging and dosimetry; gamma-ray spectroscopy; design and operation of automated data acquisition experiments using virtual instruments. Meets with graduate subject 22.90, but homework assignments and examinations differ. Instruction and practice in written communication provided.
A. Danagoulian

22.091, 22.093 Independent Project in Nuclear Science and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
22.091: TBA.
22.093: TBA.
______
For undergraduates who wish to conduct a one-term project of theoretical or experimental nature in the field of nuclear engineering, in close cooperation with individual staff members. Topics and hours arranged to fit students' requirements. Projects require prior approval by the Course 22 Undergraduate Office. 22.093 is graded P/D/F.
Fall: Contact NSE Academic Office
IAP: Contact NSE Academic Office
Spring: Contact NSE Academic Office
Summer: Contact NSE Academic Office
22.091: No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)
22.093: No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

22.099 Topics in Nuclear Science and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Provides credit for work on material in nuclear science and engineering outside of regularly scheduled subjects. Intended for study abroad with a student exchange program or an approved one-term or one-year study abroad program. Credit may be used to satisfy specific SB degree requirements. Requires prior approval. Consult department.
Fall: B. Baker
Spring: B. Baker
No required or recommended textbooks

22.S092-22.S094 Special Subject in Nuclear Science and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
22.S093: Ends Mar 21. Lecture: F2-4 (24-112)
22.S094: Lecture: TR11.30-1 (NW21-154A)
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in nuclear science and engineering that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
N. Melenbrink
22.S093: No required or recommended textbooks
22.S094: No required or recommended textbooks

22.S095 Special Subject in Nuclear Science and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in nuclear science and engineering that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
Staff

22.S097 Special Subject in Nuclear Science and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in nuclear science and engineering that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
Staff

22.S098 Special Subject in Nuclear Science and Engineering
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in nuclear science and engineering that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
Staff

22.S099 Special Subject in Nuclear Science and Engineering
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Seminar or lecture on a topic in nuclear science and engineering that is not covered in the regular curriculum.
Staff

22.C01 Modeling with Machine Learning: Nuclear Science and Engineering Applications
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 22.C51)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), 6.100A, and 6.C01
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW9.30-11 (24-115)
______
Building on core material in 6.C01, focuses on applying various machine learning techniques to a broad range of topics which are of core value in modern nuclear science and engineering. Relevant topics include machine learning on fusion and plasma diagnosis, reactor physics and nuclear fission, nuclear materials properties, quantum engineering and nuclear materials, and nuclear security. Special components center on the additional machine learning architectures that are most relevant to a certain field, the implementation, and picking up the right problems to solve using a machine learning approach. Final project dedicated to the field-specific applications. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C01.
E. Jossou
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

22.C25[J] Real World Computation with Julia
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.C25[J], 6.C25[J], 12.C25[J], 16.C25[J], 18.C25[J])
Prereq: 6.100A, 18.03, and 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on algorithms and techniques for writing and using modern technical software in a job, lab, or research group environment that may consist of interdisciplinary teams, where performance may be critical, and where the software needs to be flexible and adaptable. Topics include automatic differentiation, matrix calculus, scientific machine learning, parallel and GPU computing, and performance optimization with introductory applications to climate science, economics, agent-based modeling, and other areas. Labs and projects focus on performant, readable, composable algorithms, and software. Programming will be in Julia. Expects students to have some familiarity with Python, Matlab, or R. No Julia experience necessary.
A. Edelman, R. Ferrari, B. Forget, C. Leiseron,Y. Marzouk, J. Williams

22.C51 Modeling with Machine Learning: Nuclear Science and Engineering Applications
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 22.C01)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), 6.100A, and 6.C51
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW9.30-11 (24-115)
______
Building on core material in 6.C51, focuses on applying various machine learning techniques to a broad range of topics which are of core value in modern nuclear science and engineering. Relevant topics include machine learning on fusion and plasma diagnosis, reactor physics and nuclear fission, nuclear materials properties, quantum engineering and nuclear materials, and nuclear security. Special components center on the additional machine learning architectures that are most relevant to a certain field, the implementation, and picking up the right problems to solve using a machine learning approach. Final project dedicated to the field-specific applications. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C51.
Staff
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

22.EPE UPOP Engineering Practice Experience
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.EPE, 2.EPE, 3.EPE, 6.EPE, 8.EPE, 10.EPE, 15.EPE, 16.EPE, 20.EPE, 22.EPE)
Prereq: None
Units: 0-0-1 [P/D/F]
Lab: M11 (3-333) or M1 (1-390) or T1 (3-333) or F11 (3-333) or F1 (3-333)
______
Provides students with skills to prepare for and excel in the world of industry. Emphasizes practical application of career theory and professional development concepts. Introduces students to relevant and timely resources for career development, provides students with tools to embark on a successful internship search, and offers networking opportunities with employers and MIT alumni. Students work in groups, led by industry mentors, to improve their resumes and cover letters, interviewing skills, networking abilities, project management, and ability to give and receive feedback. Objective is for students to be able to adapt and contribute effectively to their future employment organizations. A total of two units of credit is awarded for completion of the fall and subsequent spring term offerings. Application required; consult UPOP website for more information.
Fall: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
IAP: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
Spring: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
No textbook information available

22.EPW UPOP Engineering Practice Workshop
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring)
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.EPW, 2.EPW, 3.EPW, 6.EPW, 10.EPW, 16.EPW, 20.EPW, 22.EPW)
Prereq: 2.EPE
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
Lab: TBA
______
Provides sophomores across all majors with opportunities to develop and practice communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to become successful professionals in the workplace, particularly in preparation for their summer industry internship. This immersive, multi-day Team Training Workshop (TTW) is comprised of experiential learning modules focused on expanding skills in areas that employers report being most valuable in the workplace. Modules are led by MIT faculty with the help of MIT alumni and other senior industry professionals. Skills applied through creative simulations, team problem-solving challenges, oral presentations, and networking sessions with prospective employers. Enrollment limited to those in the UPOP program.
Fall: M. Vazquez Sanchez, T. DeRoche
IAP: M.Vazquez Sanchez, T.DeRoche
Spring: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
No textbook information available

22.THT Undergraduate Thesis Tutorial
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
A series of lectures on prospectus and thesis writing. Students select a thesis topic and a thesis advisor who reviews and approves the prospectus for thesis work in the spring term.
P. Cappellaro

22.THU Undergraduate Thesis
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: 22.THT
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research, leading to the writing of an SB thesis, to be arranged by the student and appropriate MIT faculty member. See department undergraduate headquarters.
Fall: J. Buongiorno
IAP: J. Buongiorno
Spring: J. Buongiorno
Textbooks arranged individually (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

22.UAR[J] Climate and Sustainability Undergraduate Advanced Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 1.UAR[J], 3.UAR[J], 5.UAR[J], 11.UAR[J], 12.UAR[J], 15.UAR[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Lecture: MW4 (48-316)
______
Provides instruction in effective research, experiential projects, internships, and externships, including choosing and refining problems, surveying previous work and publications, industry best practices, design for robustness, technical presentation, authorship and collaboration, and ethics. Supporting content includes background and context pertaining to climate change and sustainability, as well as tools for sustainable design. Focus for project work includes research topics relevant to the MIT Climate & Sustainability Consortium (MCSC). Students engage in extensive written and oral communication exercises, in the context of an approved advanced research project. A total of 12 units of credit is awarded for completion of the spring and subsequent fall term offerings. Application required; consult MCSC website for more information.
Fall: D. Plata
Spring: D. Plata
No required or recommended textbooks

22.UR Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program is an excellent way for undergraduate students to become familiar with the Department of Nuclear Engineering. Student research as a UROP project has been conducted in areas of fission reactor studies, utilization of fusion devices, applied radiation research, and biomedical applications. Projects include the study of engineering aspects for both fusion and fission energy sources.
Fall: B. Baker
IAP: B. Baker
Spring: B. Baker
Textbooks arranged individually (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

22.URG Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program is an excellent way for undergraduate students to become familiar with the department of Nuclear Science and Engineering. Student research as a UROP project has been conducted in areas of fission reactor studies, utilization of fusion devices, applied radiation physics research, and biomedical applications. Projects include the study of engineering aspects for fusion and fission energy sources, and utilization of radiations.
Fall: B. Baker
IAP: B. Baker
Spring: B. Baker
Textbooks arranged individually (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

left arrow | 22.00-22.099 plus UROP, UPOP, and ThU | 22.101-22.599 | 22.60-22.THG | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Course 24: Linguistics and Philosophy
IAP/Spring 2025


Discovery-focused

24.93 The Search for Meaning
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with 24.A03)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
"We create islands of meaning in the sea of information" (Freeman Dyson). Primarily explores meanings conveyed through language, with an emphasis on concepts and tools from linguistics. Also brings in ideas from information theory, cryptography, logic, psychology, anthropology, computer science, philosophy, and literature. Topics include human language and its core properties, writing systems, auxiliary systems (talking drums, whistled languages), animal communication systems, the interplay of language and thought, the social dimensions of meaning, the unreasonable effectiveness of cursing, and much more. Includes some reading and thinking outside class, but no problem sets or papers. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students.
K. von Fintel

Philosophy


Undergraduate Subjects

24.00 Problems of Philosophy
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11 (32-141) Recitation: F10 (66-154) or F11 (56-180) or F12 (56-169) or F11 (66-156) +final
______
Introduction to the problems of philosophy- in particular, to problems in ethics, metaphysics, theory of knowledge, and philosophy of logic, language, and science. A systematic rather than historical approach. Readings from classical and contemporary sources, but emphasis is on examination and evaluation of proposed solutions to the problems.
A. Byrne
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

24.01 Classics of Western Philosophy
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to Western philosophical tradition through the study of selected major thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Lucretius, Descartes, Hobbes, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche and Marx. Emphasis on changes of intellectual outlook over time, and the complex interplay of scientific, religious and political concerns that influence the development of philosophical ideas.
B. Brasher

24.013 Philosophy and the Arts
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores philosophical questions about art in general, and about the particular arts, such as literature and music. Measures the answers philosophers have proposed to these questions against our own experiences with the arts. Readings include short works of literature. Includes a museum visit with no charge to students.
Staff

24.02 Moral Problems and the Good Life
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to important philosophical debates about moral issues and what constitutes a good life: What is right, what is wrong, and why? How important are personal happiness, longevity, and success if one is to live a good life? When is it good for you to get what you want? To what extent are we morally obliged to respect the rights and needs of others? What do we owe the poor, the discriminated, our loved ones, animals and fetuses?
K. Setiya

24.03 Good Food: The Ethics and Politics of Food
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW11 (32-155) Recitation: F10 (26-142) or F11 (26-142) or F12 (26-142)
______
Explores the values (aesthetic, moral, cultural, religious, prudential, political) expressed in the choices of food people eat. Analyzes the decisions individuals make about what to eat, how society should manage food production and consumption collectively, and how reflection on food choices might help resolve conflicts between different values.
S. Haslanger
No textbook information available

24.04[J] Justice
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 17.01[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to contemporary political thought centered around the ideal of justice and the realities of injustice. Examines what a just society might look like and how we should understand various forms of oppression and domination. Studies three theories of justice (utilitarianism, libertarianism, and egalitarian liberalism) and brings them into conversation with other traditions of political thought (critical theory, communitarianism, republicanism, and post-structuralism). Readings cover foundational debates about equality, freedom, recognition, and power.
B. Zacka

24.05 Philosophy of Religion
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR12 (32-144) Recitation: F10 (56-167) or F11 (56-167)
______
Uses key questions in the philosophy of religion to introduce tools of contemporary philosophy. Explores what defines a god, the possibility of the existence of gods, the potential conflict between religion and science, whether morality requires a divine author, and religious tolerance.
J. Spencer
No textbook information available

24.06[J] Bioethics
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as STS.006[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Considers ethical questions that have arisen from the growth of biomedical research and the health-care industry since World War II. Should doctors be allowed to help patients end their lives? If so, when and how? Should embryos be cloned for research and/or reproduction? Should parents be given control over the genetic make-up of their children? What types of living things are appropriate to use as research subjects? How should we distribute scarce and expensive medical resources? Draws on philosophy, history, and anthropology to show how problems in bioethics can be approached from a variety of perspectives.
R. Scheffler, M. Masny

24.08[J] Philosophical Issues in Brain Science
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 9.48[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
An introduction to some central philosophical questions about the mind, specifically those intimately connected with contemporary psychology and neuroscience. Discussions focus on arguments over innate concepts; 'mental images' as pictures in the head; whether color is in the mind or in the world; and whether there can be a science of consciousness. Explains the relevant parts of psychology and neuroscience as the subject proceeds.
Staff

24.09 Minds and Machines
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11 (32-155) Recitation: F10 (56-191) or F11 (56-191) or F12 (56-162, 56-191)
______
Introduction to philosophy of mind. Can computers think? Is the mind an immaterial thing? Alternatively, is the mind the brain? How can creatures like ourselves think thoughts that are about things? Can I know whether your experiences are the same as mine when we both look at raspberries, fire trucks, and stoplights? Can consciousness be given a scientific explanation?
M. Michel
No required or recommended textbooks

24.111 Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11 (32-144) Recitation: F11 (66-154) or F12 (66-144)
______
Quantum mechanics is said to describe a world in which physical objects often lack "definite" properties, indeterminism creeps in at the point of "observation," ordinary logic does not apply, and distant events are perfectly yet inexplicably correlated. Examination of these and other issues central to the philosophical foundations of quantum mechanics, with special attention to the measurement problem, no-hidden-variables proofs, and Bell's Inequalities. Rigorous approach to the subject matter nevertheless neither presupposes nor requires the development of detailed technical knowledge of the quantum theory.
T. Menon
No required or recommended textbooks

24.116 Philosophy of Statistics
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies how to evaluate statistical hypotheses. Critically considers several prominent approaches, including frequentism (with its null hypotheses, test statistics, p-values), likelihoodism (with its likelihood ratios and relative support) and Bayesianism (with its priors, conditionalization, utilities). Focuses on foundations, not technicalities. Previous exposure to statistics will be helpful but isn't required.
Staff

24.118 Paradox and Infinity
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Presents highlights of the more technical side of philosophy. Studies a cluster of puzzles, paradoxes, and intellectual wonders - from the higher infinite to Godel's Theorem - and discusses their philosophical implications. Recommended prerequisites: 6.100A, 18.01. Enrollment limited.
Staff

24.121 Metaphysics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Study of basic metaphysical issues concerning existence, the mind-body problem, personal identity, and causation plus its implications for freedom. Classical as well as contemporary readings. Provides practice in written and oral communication.
Staff

24.122[J] Knowledge, Opinion, and Truth
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as CC.118[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Seminar subject in political philosophy. Examines what it means for something to be true, how the truth is connected to what we mean by knowledge, and the difference between knowledge and opinion. Students engage in a close reading and discussion of Plato's three epistemological works. Taught as guided discussions of texts and student papers. Preference to students in Concourse.
Staff

24.130 Ethics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Survey of moral philosophy in the Western tradition, focusing primarily on utilitarian, Kantian, and Aristotelian moral theories, along with selected criticisms of those theories. Explores the questions of what makes right actions right and wrong actions wrong, what a good life consists of, what it takes to be a virtuous person, and what it means to be free and responsible for one's actions. Debates why these ideas are important. Aim is to understand how some of the most influential philosophers have addressed these questions, and by so doing, to better understand and formulate one's own views. Readings from classic and contemporary authors, including Aristotle, Bentham, Kant, Rawls, Nagel, and Korsgaard. Enrollment limited.
T. Schapiro

24.131 Ethics of Technology
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3 (32-144) Recitation: F11 (56-162) or F12 (66-154)
______
Introduces the tools of philosophical ethics through application to contemporary issues concerning technology. Takes up current debates on topics such as privacy and surveillance, algorithmic bias, the promise and peril of artificial intelligence, automation and the future of work, and threats to democracy in the digital age from the perspective of users, practitioners, and regulatory/governing bodies.
K. Mills, K. Nader
No textbook information available

24.132 Workshop in Ethical Engineering
______

Undergrad (IAP)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1
______
Students study and apply a protocol for identifying and addressing ethical issues in a computer science, software development, or other engineering project. Builds a vocabulary to advocate for and justify ethical decisions in engineering contexts. For the final project, students either apply the protocol to a project they are working on, or develop their own protocol.
Staff

24.133 Experiential Ethics
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring); partial term
(Subject meets with 24.134)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2
URL: https://experientialethics.mit.edu/
Lecture: TBA
______
Examines the ethical context around students' summer internships, research, and other experiential learning activities. During the summer and through the first four weeks of the fall term, students engage in small group discussions of applied ethical practices and case studies. Throughout the subject, they explore their own moral values through a reflective final project that examines their engagement with ethics during their summer experience. Includes local field trips, practitioner interviews, and/or similar opportunities for interaction with professional ethics. Concludes with a showcase of final presentations. Meets with 24.134, a 6-unit version which includes additional class time, assignments, theoretical content, and in-depth engagement.  Students planning to take this subject must apply in the spring; consult program website for details.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No textbook information available

24.134 Experiential Ethics
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring); partial term
(Subject meets with 24.133)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Lecture: TBA
______
Examines the ethical context around students' summer internships, research, and other experiential learning activities. During the summer and beginning of fall term, students engage in small group discussions of applied ethical problems. Includes an independent project and opportunities for interaction with professional ethics. Meets with 24.133 but includes additional class time, assignments, theoretical content, and in-depth engagement. Students planning to take this subject must apply in the spring; consult program website for details.
Fall: K. Nader
Spring: K. Nader
No textbook information available

24.137[J] Feminist Thought
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 17.007[J], WGS.301[J])
(Subject meets with 17.006[J], 24.637[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (66-156)
______
Analyzes theories of gender and politics, especially ideologies of gender and their construction; definitions of public and private spheres; gender issues in citizenship, the development of the welfare state, experiences of war and revolution, class formation, and the politics of sexuality. Graduate students are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
Fall: Arain, Hafsa
Spring: Arain, Hafsa
No required or recommended textbooks

24.141 Logic I
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to the aims and techniques of formal logic. The logic of truth functions and quantifiers. The concepts of validity and truth and their relation to formal deduction. Applications of logic and the place of logic in philosophy.
B. Brast-McKie

24.150[J] Liberalism, Toleration, and Freedom of Speech
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 17.043[J], CMS.125[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines theories and principles that underlie the concept of free speech in the United States, the historical context in which the values of free speech and toleration emerged, and the philosophical arguments that were and are made for and against them. Students analyze a variety of contexts and communicative practices, including new media technologies, to debate how "speech" can be described and when it should be appropriately regulated. Considers current disputes over free speech on college campuses.
A. Byrne, B. Skow

24.C40[J] Ethics of Computing
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 6.C40[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores ethical questions raised by the potentially transformative power of computing technologies. Topics include: lessons from the history of transformative technologies; the status of property and privacy rights in the digital realm; effective accelerationism, AI alignment, and existential risk; algorithmic bias and algorithmic fairness; and free speech, disinformation, and polarization on online platforms.
B. Skow, A. Solar-Lezama

24.200 Ancient Philosophy
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: One Philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Investigates the origins of Western philosophy in ancient Greece. Aims both to understand the philosophical questions the Greeks were asking on their own terms, and to assess their answers to them. Examines how a human being can lead a good life, the relationship between morality and happiness, our knowledge of the world around us, and the entities we need to appeal to in order to explain that world. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
Staff

24.201 Topics in the History of Philosophy
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (2-103)
______
Close examination of a text, an author, or a theme in the history of philosophy. Can be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor and advisor. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
T. Schapiro
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

24.211 Theory of Knowledge
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: One philosophy subject
Units: 3-0-9
______
Study of problems concerning our concept of knowledge, our knowledge of the past, our knowledge of the thoughts and feelings of ourselves and others, and our knowledge of the existence and properties of physical objects in our immediate environment. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
R. White, J. Pearson

24.212 Philosophy of Perception
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
In-depth examination of philosophical issues concerning perception, such as whether we see mind-independent physical objects or, alternatively, mind-dependent representations; whether perception is a source of theory-neutral observations or is affected by the perceiver's beliefs in a way that compromises the objectivity of science. Readings primarily drawn from contemporary literature in both philosophy and psychology. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
J. Heine

24.213 Philosophy of Film
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the philosophical analysis of cinematic art. Topics may include the nature of film, authorship, interpretation, ethical, narration, metaphor, meta-criticism, political and emotional engagement with the cinematic experience. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
J. Khoo

24.215 Topics in the Philosophy of Science
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: One philosophy subject
Units: 3-0-9
______
Close examination of a small number of issues central to recent philosophy of science, such as the demarcation problem, causal relations, laws of nature, underdetermination of theory by data, paradoxes of confirmation, scientific realism, the role of mathematics in science, elimination of bias, and the objectivity of scientific discourse. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
Staff

24.220 Moral Psychology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
An examination of philosophical theories of action and motivation in the light of empirical findings from social psychology, sociology and neuroscience. Topics include belief, desire, and moral motivation; sympathy and empathy; intentions and other committing states; strength of will and weakness of will; free will; addiction and compulsion; guilt, shame and regret; evil; self-knowledge and self-deception; virtues and character traits. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
T. Schapiro

24.222 Decisions, Games and Rational Choice
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Foundations and philosophical applications of Bayesian decision theory, game theory and theory of collective choice. Why should degrees of belief be probabilities? Is it always rational to maximize expected utility? If so, why and what is its utility? What is a solution to a game? What does a game-theoretic solution concept such as Nash equilibrium say about how rational players will, or should, act in a game? How are the values and the actions of groups, institutions and societies related to the values and actions of the individuals that constitute them? Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
Staff

24.223 Rationality
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides the tools for thinking through the tension of empirical work that suggests humans are surprisingly irrational and other work that suggests humans are exquisitely rational. Doing so requires combining both normative and descriptive methods: the need to know how ideally rational agents <em>would</em> reason, as well as how real people <em>do</em> reason. The first half of the term is spent learning the details of how to work with the canonical (Bayesian) theory of rationality; it is blackboard- and problem-set based. The second half of the term is spent applying this theory to work out the proper interpretation of a variety of empirical results that have been taken to demonstrate human irrationality, such as hindsight bias, motivated reasoning, the gambler's fallacy, the sunk-cost fallacy, conformity, and polarization. Subject is paper- and discussion-based.   Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
K. Dorst

24.230 Meta-ethics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Considers a range of philosophical questions about the foundations of morality, such as whether and in what sense morality is objective, the nature of moral discourse, and how we can come to know right from wrong. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
J. Khoo

24.233 The Ethics of Climate Change
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Deals with ethical questions raised by the way in which our climate is changing as a result of fossil fuel consumption. Explores the moral problems raised by these effects, the obligations of individuals and governments, the difficulties involved in dealing with uncertainty, catastrophe, and the ethics of future generations. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
Staff

24.234 Global Justice, Gender, and Development
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Subject meets with 24.634)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Addresses challenges in working towards global justice including poverty, food and water insecurity, healthcare disparities, human rights violations, violence and dislocation, and environmental risk. Focuses on gender and identity, locating the root causes of inequality within cultural, political and economic contexts. Designed to give a framework to understand gender dynamics. Teaches how to integrate gender sensitive strategies into development work. Classes, readings, and final projects illustrate how design and implementation of international development strategies can provide capacity building and income generation opportunities. Meets with EC.718 when offered concurrently. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20 total for versions meeting together.
S. Haslanger

24.235[J] Philosophy of Law
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 17.021[J])
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines fundamental issues in philosophy of law, such as the nature and limits of law and a legal system, and the relation of law to morality, with particular emphasis on the philosophical issues and problems associated with privacy, liberty, justice, punishment, and responsibility. Historical and contemporary readings, including court cases. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
Staff

24.236 Topics in Social Theory and Practice
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Subject meets with 24.636)
Prereq: One philsophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (24-307) +final
______
An in-depth consideration of a topic in social theory with reflection on its implications for social change. Examples of topics include race and racism; punishment and prison reform; global justice and human rights; gender and global care chains; environmentalism and industrial agriculture; bioethics, disability, and human enhancement; capitalism and commodification; and sexuality and the family. Readings draw from both social science and philosophy with special attention to the normative literature relevant to the issue. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
R. Fraser
No textbook information available

24.240[J] Literature and Philosophy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 21L.452[J])
Prereq: One philosophy subject
Units: 3-0-9
______
Highlights interactions between literary and philosophical texts, asking how philosophical themes can be explored in fiction, poetry, and drama. Exposes students to diverse modes of humanistic thought, interpretation, and argument, putting the tools and ideas of philosophy into conversation with those of the literary humanities. Students engage closely with selected literary and philosophical texts, explore selected topics in philosophy - such as ethics, epistemology, and aesthetics - through a literary lens, and participate in class discussion with peers and professors.  Enrollment limited.
M. Gubar, K. Setiya

24.242 Logic II
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: 24.141 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
The central results of modern logic: the completeness of predicate logic, recursive functions, the incompleteness of arithmetic, the unprovability of consistency, the indefinability of truth, Skolem-Löwenheim theorems, and nonstandard models. Enrollment may be limited.
Staff

24.243 Classical Set Theory
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: 24.141 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduction to the basic concepts and results of standard, i.e., Zermelo-Fraenkel, set theory, the axioms of ZF, ordinal and cardinal arithmetic, the structure of the set-theoretic universe, the axiom of choice, the (generalized) continuum hypothesis, inaccessibles, and beyond. Enrollment may be limited.
Staff

24.244 Modal Logic
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: 24.141
Units: 3-0-9
______
Sentential and quantified modal logic, with emphasis on the model theory ("possible worlds semantics"). Soundness, completeness, and characterization results for alternative systems. Tense and dynamic logics, epistemic logics, as well as logics of necessity and possibility. Applications in philosophy, theoretical computer science, and linguistics. Enrollment may be limited.
R. Stalnaker

24.245 Theory of Models
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: 24.141 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies fundamental results in the model theory of the first-order predicate calculus. Includes completeness, compactness, Löwenheim-Skolem, omitting types, ultraproducts, and categoricity in a cardinal, starting with Tarski's definition of logical consequence, in terms of truth in a model. Enrollment may be limited.
Staff

24.251 Introduction to Philosophy of Language
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: One philosophy subject
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines views on the nature of meaning, reference, and truth, and their bearing on the use of language in communication. No knowledge of logic or linguistics presupposed. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
Staff

24.252 Language and Power
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (24-307)
______
Explores topics at the intersection of philosophy of language and social/political philosophy. Topics may include linguistic harm, free speech, speech in non-cooperative contexts (lying, insincerity, antagonistic interlocutors), propaganda, pejoratives, and the relationship of language to features of the social world (race, gender, ideology). Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
S. Berstler
No textbook information available

24.253 Philosophy of Mathematics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Philosophical issues about or related to mathematics, including the existence and nature of basic mathematical objects such as numbers and sets, how we can come to have knowledge of such objects, the status of mathematical truth, the relation of mathematics to logic, and whether classical logic can be called into question. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
Staff

24.260 Topics in Philosophy
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: Two subjects in philosophy
Units: 3-0-9
______
Close examination of a single book, or group of related essays, with major significance in recent philosophy. Subject matter varies from year to year. Intended primarily for majors and minors in philosophy. Opportunities are provided for oral presentation. Students will be required to revise at least one paper in response to instructor's comments. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
C. Hare

24.280 Foundations of Probability
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: One philosophy subject or one subject on probability
Units: 3-0-9
______
Topics include probability puzzles, common fallacies in probabilistic reasoning, defenses and criticisms of Kolmogorov's axiomatization, interpretations of probability (including the frequency, logical, propensity, and various subjectivist interpretations), the relation of objective chance to rational subjective credence, conditional probability, rules for updating probability, and proposals for supplementing the probability calculus with further principles. Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.
R. White

24.292 Independent Study: Philosophy
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: Any two subjects in philosophy
Units arranged
______
Open to qualified students who wish to pursue special studies or projects. Students electing this subject must consult the undergraduate officer.
Staff

24.293 Independent Study: Philosophy
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: Any two subjects in philosophy
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Open to qualified students who wish to pursue special studies or projects. Students electing this subject must consult the undergraduate officer.
Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

24.S00 Special Subject: Philosophy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Undergraduate subject that covers topics not offered in the regular curriculum. Consult department to learn of offerings for a particular term.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff

24.S20 Special Subject: Philosophy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Undergraduate subject that covers topics not offered in the regular curriculum. Consult department to learn of offerings for a particular term.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff

24.UR Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Research opportunities in linguistics and philosophy. For further information, consult the departmental coordinators.
Fall: C. Graham
IAP: C. Graham
Spring: C. Graham
No required or recommended textbooks

24.URG Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Research opportunities in linguistics and philosophy. For further information consult the departmental coordinators.
Fall: C. Graham
IAP: C. Graham
Spring: C. Graham
No required or recommended textbooks


Undergraduate Seminars

24.191 Being, Thinking, Doing (or Not): Ethics in Your Life
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
URL: http://student.mit.edu/catalog/search.cgi?search=24.191
Lecture: T EVE (7-8.30 PM) (32-D461)
______
Provides an opportunity to explore a wide range of ethical issues through guided discussions that are geared to equip students for ongoing reflection and action. Lectures and discussions with guest faculty, as well as attendance at on-and off-campus events, expose students to ethical problems and resources for addressing them. Encourages students to work collaboratively as they clarify their personal and vocational principles. Topics vary each term and will reflect the interests of those enrolled.
N. Collura, J. Pearson
No textbook information available

24.192 Language, Information, and Power
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
Explores foundational issues about language and communication by investigating different ways language and its use affects various aspects of lived experience. Topics include speech act theory, lying, propaganda, censorship, expressions of knowledge, communication in non-cooperative contexts.
J. Khoo


Graduate Subjects

24.400 Proseminar in Philosophy I
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 6-0-18 [P/D/F]
______
Advanced study of the basic problems of philosophy. Intended for first-year graduate students in philosophy.
A. Rayo, J. Spencer

24.401 Proseminar in Philosophy II
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 6-0-18 [P/D/F]
Lecture: MR10-1 (32-D831)
______
Advanced study of the basic problems of philosophy. Intended for first-year graduate students in philosophy.
B. Skow, R. White
No textbook information available

24.410 Topics in the History of Philosophy
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Intensive study of a philosopher or philosophical movement. Content varies from year to year and subject may be taken repeatedly with permission of instructor and advisor.
T. Schapiro

24.420 Ancient Philosophy
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Investigates the origins of Western philosophy in ancient Greece. Aims both to understand the philosophical questions the Greeks were asking on their own terms, and to assess their answers to them. Examines how a human being can lead a good life, the relationship between morality and happiness, our knowledge of the world around us, and the entities we need to appeal to in order to explain that world. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
B. Brasher

24.500 Topics in Philosophy of Mind
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Selected topics in philosophy of mind. Content varies from year to year. Topics may include consciousness, mental representation, perception, and mental causation.
A. Byrne

24.501 Problems in Metaphysics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Systematic examination of selected problems in metaphysics. Content varies from year to year and subject may be taken repeatedly with permission of instructor and advisor.
J. Spencer

24.502 Topics in Metaphysics and Ethics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Systematic examination of selected problems concerning the relation between metaphysics and ethics, for example questions about personal identity and its relation to issues about fairness and distribution, or questions about the relation between causation and responsibility. Content may vary from year to year, and the subject may be taken repeatedly with the permission of the instructor and the student's advisor.
J. Khoo, T. Schapiro

24.503 Topics in Philosophy of Religion
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Selected topics in philosophy of religion. Content varies from year to year. Topics may include the traditional arguments for the existence of God, religious experience, the problem of evil, survival after death, God and ethics.
A. Byrne

24.504 Topics in Aesthetics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Selected topics in aesthetics. Content varies from year to year. Topics may include the definition of art, the expression of emotion in music, the nature of depiction, the role of artists intentions in interpretation, and the relationship between moral and aesthetic value.
J. Khoo, B. Skow

24.601 Topics in Moral Philosophy
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T2-5 (32-D831)
______
Systematic examination of selected problems in moral philosophy. Content varies from year to year. Subject may be repeated only with permission of instructor and advisor.
C. Hare
No textbook information available

24.602 Topics in the Philosophy of Agency
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Systematic examination of selected problems in the theory of agency. Content varies from year to year and subject may be taken repeatedly with permission of instructor and advisor.
T. Schapiro

24.611[J] Political Philosophy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 17.000[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Systematic examination of selected issues in political philosophy. Topic changes each year and subject may be taken repeatedly with permission of instructor.
Staff

24.634 Global Justice, Gender, and Development
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 24.234)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Addresses challenges in working towards global justice including poverty, food and water insecurity, healthcare disparities, human rights violations, violence and dislocation, and environmental risk. Focuses on gender and identity, locating the root causes of inequality within cultural, political and economic contexts. Designed to give a framework to understand gender dynamics. Teaches how to integrate gender sensitive strategies into development work. Classes, readings, and final projects illustrate how design and implementation of international development strategies can provide capacity building and income generation opportunities. Meets with EC.798 when offered concurrently. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20 total for versions meeting together.
S. Haslanger, L. McDonald

24.635 Topics in Critical Social Theory
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores topics arising within critical race theory, feminist theory, queer theory, disability studies, working class studies, and related interdisciplinary efforts - both historical and contemporary - to understand and promote social justice.
Staff

24.636 Topics in Social Theory and Practice
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 24.236)
Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
An in-depth consideration of a topic in social theory with reflection on its implications for social change. Examples of topics include race and racism; punishment and prison reform; global justice and human rights; gender and global care chains; environmentalism and industrial agriculture; bioethics, disability, and human enhancement; capitalism and commodification; and sexuality and the family. Readings draw from both social science and philosophy with special attention to the normative literature relevant to the issue. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment may be limited.
R. Fraser

24.637[J] Feminist Thought
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Same subject as 17.006[J])
(Subject meets with 17.007[J], 24.137[J], WGS.301[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor, based on previous coursework
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (66-156)
______
Analyzes theories of gender and politics, especially ideologies of gender and their construction; definitions of public and private spheres; gender issues in citizenship, the development of the welfare state, experiences of war and revolution, class formation, and the politics of sexuality. Graduate students are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
S. Haslanger
No textbook information available

24.711 Topics in Philosophical Logic
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: M2-5 (32-D831)
______
Problems of ontology, epistemology, and philosophy of language that bear directly on questions about the nature of logic and the conceptual analysis of logical theory, such as logical truth, logical consequence, and proof. Content varies from year to year and subject may be taken repeatedly upon permission of instructor and advisor.
B. Brast-McKie
No required or recommended textbooks

24.729 Topics in Philosophy of Language
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: R2-5 (32-D831)
______
Major issues in the philosophy of language. Topics change each year and subject may be taken repeatedly with permission of instructor.
Fall: J. Khoo
Spring: S. Berstler
No textbook information available

24.805 Topics in Theory of Knowledge
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Major issues in theory of knowledge. Topics change each year and subject may be taken repeatedly with permission of instructor.
K. Dorst, J. Spencer

24.810 Topics in Philosophy of Science
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W12-3 (32-D831)
______
Topics in the foundations of science: the nature of concepts and theories, the distinction between empirical and theoretical knowledge claims, realist and instrumentalist interpretation of such claims, and the analysis of scientific explanation. The central topic varies from year to year. Subject may be taken repeatedly with the permission of instructor and advisor.
B. Skow
No textbook information available

24.891 Independent Study: Philosophy
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Open to qualified graduate students in philosophy who wish to pursue special studies or projects. Consult with the intended advisor and the Chair of the Committee on Graduate Students in Philosophy before registering.
Fall: B. Skow
Spring: B. Skow
No textbook information available

24.892 Independent Study: Philosophy
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Open to qualified graduate students in philosophy who wish to pursue special studies or projects. Consult with the intended advisor and the Chair of the Committee on Graduate Students in Philosophy before registering.
Fall: B. Skow
Spring: B. Skow
No textbook information available

24.893 Dissertation Workshop
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-1
Lecture: TBA
______
Workshop for students working on their dissertations. Restricted to Philosophy doctoral students.
Fall: J. Khoo
Spring: J. Khoo
No textbook information available

24.894 Placement Workshop
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
Lecture: TBA
______
Workshop for students planning to apply for academic jobs in the following year. Advice and feedback on preparation of application materials, including writing sample, thesis abstract, and course syllabi. Limited to philosophy graduate students.
Fall: J. Khoo
Spring: J. Khoo
No textbook information available

24.899 Topics in Linguistics and Philosophy
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Selected topics at the intersection of linguistics and philosophy. Intended for graduate students in either linguistics or philosophy. Topics vary from year to year.
Staff

24.TAC Teaching Requirement in Linguistics and Philosophy
(New)
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For graduate students who are fulfilling an academic teaching requirement in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

24.THG Graduate Thesis
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research and writing of thesis, to be arranged by the student with supervising committee.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

24.S40 Special Seminar: Philosophy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Graduate subject that covers topics not offered in the regular curriculum. Consult department to learn of offerings for a particular term.
Staff

24.S41 Special Seminar: Philosophy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Graduate subject that covers topics not offered in the regular curriculum. Consult department to learn of offerings for a particular term.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff


left arrow | Philosophy | Linguistics | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Concourse Program
IAP/Spring 2025


Concourse Science Subjects


Chemistry

CC.5111 Principles of Chemical Science
______

Undergrad (Fall) Chemistry
Prereq: None. Coreq: CC.010 or CC.A10
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 3.091, 5.111, 5.112, ES.5111, ES.5112
______
Equivalent to 5.111; see 5.111 for description. Limited to students in Concourse.
E. Taylor

CC.512 Organic Chemistry I
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR); Coreq: CC.010, CC.011, or CC.A10
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 5.12
Lecture: MWF10 (16-160) Recitation: TR10 (16-160) +final
______
Equivalent to 5.12; See 5.12 for description. Limited to students in Concourse.
E. Taylor
No textbook information available


Mathematics

CC.1801 Calculus
______

Undergrad (Fall) Calculus I
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.01, 18.01A, ES.1801, ES.181A
______
Equivalent to 18.01; see 18.01 for description. Limited to students in Concourse.
Daniel Keliher

CC.1802 Calculus
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Calculus II
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR); Coreq: CC.010, CC.011, or CC.A10
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.02, 18.022, 18.02A, ES.1802, ES.182A
Lecture: TR11,F2 (16-160) Recitation: MW12 (16-136)
______
Equivalent to 18.02; see 18.02 for description. Limited to students in Concourse.
Fall: D. Keliher
Spring: D. Keliher
No textbook information available

CC.1803 Differential Equations
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: None. Coreq: Calculus II (GIR) and (CC.010, CC.011, or CC.A10)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.03, ES.1803
Lecture: TR12,F11 (16-160) Recitation: MW12 (16-160) +final
______
Equivalent to 18.03; see 18.03 for description. Limited to students in Concourse.
D. Keliher
No textbook information available


Physics

CC.082 Discovering Electricity and Magnetism
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
In this seminar, students discover some of the concepts covered in 8.022 from the perspective of a practicing physicist. Employs vector calculus as an alternative tool for problem solving, and introduces the relativistic origin of magnetism. We will meet twice weekly to discuss these concepts as well as to work together on more advanced kinds of problems. Aims to further engage students already interested in majoring in physics, as well as those who wish simply to discover what physics has to offer. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Limited to students enrolled in Concourse.
Staff

CC.801 Physics I
______

Undergrad (Fall) Physics I
(Subject meets with CC.8012)
Prereq: None. Coreq: CC.010 or CC.A10
Units: 5-0-7
______
Equivalent to 8.01; see 8.01 for description. Limited to students in Concourse.
R. Lang

CC.8012 Physics I
______

Undergrad (Fall) Physics I
(Subject meets with CC.801)
Prereq: None. Coreq: CC.010 or CC.A10
Units: 5-0-7
______
Equivalent to 8.012; see 8.012 for description. Limited to students in Concourse.
R. Lang

CC.802 Physics II
______

Undergrad (Spring) Physics II
(Subject meets with CC.8022)
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR) and Physics I (GIR); Coreq: CC.010, CC.011, or CC.A10
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (16-160) Recitation: TR1 (16-160) +final
______
Equivalent to 8.02; see 8.02 for description. Limited to students in Concourse.
Lang, Ryan
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

CC.8022 Physics II
______

Undergrad (Spring) Physics II
(Subject meets with CC.802)
Prereq: Physics I (GIR); Coreq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (16-160) Recitation: R4,F2 (26-204) +final
______
Equivalent to 8.022; see 8.022 for description. Limited to students in Concourse.
R. Lang
No textbook information available

Concourse HASS Subjects

CC.110 Becoming Human: Ancient Greek Perspectives on the Good Life
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None. Coreq: CC.010 or CC.A10
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the question of the good life in the major literary and philosophic thinkers of ancient Greece. Considers topics such as justice, moral virtue, friendship, love, and the life of the mind both for an individual and as part of society. Students debate the classical Greek answers to these questions and consider ways in which these answers apply to our present lives. Includes selected works by authors such as Homer, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Plato, Aristotle, and Epicurus. Limited to students in Concourse.
L. Rabieh

CC.111[J] Modern Conceptions of Freedom
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 17.04[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3-4.30 (16-160)
______
Students read early modern political theorists, and trace the growth of the value of freedom. Examines the modern definition of freedom, and the obligations that people accept in honoring it. Also investigates how these obligations are captured in the principles of our political association. Studies how the centrality of freedom plays out in the political thought of such authors as Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke and Montesquieu. Students also debate which notions of freedom inspire and sustain the American experiment by carefully reading the documents and arguments of the founding of the United States. Preference to students in Concourse.
L. Rabieh
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

CC.115 Writing About Big Questions: Defending Poetry
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive Writing
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Intensive focus on the reading and writing skills used to analyze a variety of challenging texts. Coverage includes Platonic dialogues and other works of philosophy, poetic treatises (like Sidney's Defense of Poesy, or Wordsworth and Coleridge's "Preface" to Lyrical Ballads), and creative works by the same writers, as well as criticism that probes how such texts may relate to, qualify, and inform each other. Students practice various forms of argument, orally and in writing, and consider how purpose and audience may influence one's approach. Designed to prepare students for further work in the liberal arts, as well as to promote increased confidence and enjoyment in reading, writing, and analysis. Students write or revise essays throughout the term. Preference given to Concourse students.
E. Zimmer

CC.116 How to Rule the World: The Promises and Pitfalls of Politics, War, and Empire
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Explores the ambitions and constraints of political rule in order to understand how transformational leaders have (or should have) managed both in the service of good government. Employs normative and empirical methods to assess effective leadership, with particular attention to trade-offs between justice and security and to competing notions of justice itself. Includes case studies and various foundational texts that address the theme of great political leadership. Drawing on the texts, students discern different criteria for good rule and assess both the adequacy of those criteria and whether case studies support them. Preference to Concourse students.
L. Rabieh

CC.117[J] Humane Warfare: Ancient and Medieval Perspectives on Ethics in War
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 17.05[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores questions of justice and ethics in war by focusing on primary texts of pre-modern works of history, philosophy, literature, and Biblical interpretation. Readings from antiquity include Thucydides, Aristophanes, and Cicero. Examination of the Biblical tradition of just war, itself informed by the classical tradition, includes readings from early and Medieval Christian and Islamic thinkers and proceeds through the early Renaissance, with the beginning of a formalized doctrine of just war theory. Readings about current ethical dilemmas of war are discussed throughout and are given sustained attention at the end of the term. Preference to Concourse students.
L. Rabieh

CC.118[J] Knowledge, Opinion, and Truth
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 24.122[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Seminar subject in political philosophy. Examines what it means for something to be true, how the truth is connected to what we mean by knowledge, and the difference between knowledge and opinion. Students engage in a close reading and discussion of Plato's three epistemological works. Taught as guided discussions of texts and student papers. Preference to students in Concourse.
Staff

CC.120[J] Making Books in the Renaissance and Today
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Arts
(Same subject as 21H.343[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (14N-112)
______
Explores the impact of new technology on the recording and distribution of words and images in Europe from 1400-1800. Assignments include essays and online projects. Students participate in the design and printing of an eight-page pamphlet on a hand-set printing press. Limited to 12.
Fall: E. Zimmer
Spring: E. Zimmer
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

Concourse Seminars

CC.010 Seminar I
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
(Subject meets with CC.A10)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
The key academic integration in which philosophical, historical, and sociological topics are connected with modern science. Combination of outside speakers and Concourse faculty lead weekly luncheon discussion. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students. Limited to Concourse students.
L. Rabieh

CC.011 Seminar II
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
Lecture: F12-2 (16-128)
______
Researchers from across MIT join the Concourse seminar to explore the topic of "Thinking Across the Disciplines." Concourse faculty lead weekly luncheon discussions with our guests from the wider MIT faculty. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students. Preference to students in Concourse.
L. Rabieh
No textbook information available

CC.012 Continuing Conversations
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
Lecture: F3-5 (16-136)
______
Close reading and vigorous discussion of an important book or theme, chosen to explore philosophical, ethical, and political questions that span the ages and disciplines. Readings and themes vary by term. Past examples include Aristotle's Physics, Plato's dialogue on knowledge, the Theaetetus, and a variety of writings that exemplify liberalism and conservatism in the American tradition. Preference to Concourse students.
Fall: L. Rabieh
Spring: L. Rabieh
No textbook information available

Concourse Teaching and Research

CC.200 Concourse Program Undergraduate Teaching
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Tutoring, leadership of study and review groups, seminars and recitations in the Concourse Program, under the supervision of senior Concourse staff. Limited to students in Concourse.
Staff

CC.210 Independent Study
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a staff member. Projects require prior approval, as well as a written proposal and a final report. Limited to students in Concourse.
IAP: A. Sheth
Spring: D. Keliher
No textbook information available

CC.220 Independent Study
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a staff member. Projects require prior approval, as well as a written proposal and a final report. Limited to students in Concourse.
Fall: L. Rabieh
Spring: L. Rabieh
No textbook information available

CC.UR Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For students wishing to pursue undergraduate research opportunities in Concourse. Limited to students in Concourse.
Staff
Textbooks arranged individually

Concourse Special Subjects

CC.S10 Special Subject: Concourse
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in Concourse.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: P. Cogliano

CC.S11 Special Subject: Concourse
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in Concourse.
Staff

CC.S20, CC.S21 Special Subject: Concourse
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
CC.S20: Lecture: TBA
CC.S21: TBA.
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in Concourse.
Fall: S. Rickard
IAP: S. Rickard
Spring: S. Rickard
CC.S20: No textbook information available
CC.S21: No textbook information available

left arrow | CC.00 - CC.UR | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Common Ground for Computing Education
IAP/Spring 2025

CG Home    IAP only
left arrow | CG | right arrow

The Common Ground for Computing Education is a cross-cutting initiative of the Schwarzman College of Computing that facilitates collaborations across multiple departments to teach broadly-applicable computing topics that are intertwined with discipline-specific content. The Common Ground involves participation by all five of MIT's Schools.

Machine Learning, Optimization, Inference

1.C01 Machine Learning for Sustainable Systems
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
(Subject meets with 1.C51)
Prereq: 6.C01 and ((1.000 and 1.010) or permission of instructor)
Units: 1-1-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR10.30-12 (1-390) Recitation: F1 (1-390)
______
Building on core material in 6.C01, emphasizes the design and operation of sustainable systems. Illustrates how to leverage heterogeneous data from urban services, cities, and the environment, and apply machine learning methods to evaluate and/or improve sustainability solutions. Provides case studies from various domains, such as transportation and urban mobility, energy and water resources, environmental monitoring, infrastructure sensing and control, climate adaptation, and disaster resilience. Projects focus on using machine learning to identify new insights or decisions that can help engineer sustainability in societal-scale systems. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C01.
S. Amin
No required or recommended textbooks

1.C51 Machine Learning for Sustainable Systems
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
(Subject meets with 1.C01)
Prereq: 6.C51 and ((6.3700 and 18.06) or permission of instructor)
Units: 1-1-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR10.30-12 (1-390) Recitation: F1 (1-390)
______
Building on core material in 6.C51, emphasizes the design and operation of sustainable systems. Students learn to leverage heterogeneous data from urban services, cities, and the environment, and apply machine learning methods to evaluate and/or improve sustainability solutions. Provides case studies from various domains, such as transportation and mobility, energy and water resources, environment monitoring, infrastructure sensing and control, climate adaptation, and disaster resilience. Projects focus on using machine learning to identify new insights or decisions to help engineer sustainability in societal-scale systems. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C51.
S. Amin
No required or recommended textbooks

2.C01 Physical Systems Modeling and Design Using Machine Learning
______

Undergrad (Spring); second half of term
(Subject meets with 2.C51)
Prereq: 2.086 and 6.C01
Units: 1-3-2
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: F11-1 (3-270)
______
Building on core material in 6.C01, encourages open-ended exploration of the increasingly topical intersection between artificial intelligence and the physical sciences. Uses energy and information, and their respective optimality conditions, to define supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms as well as ordinary and partial differential equations. Subsequently, physical systems with complex constitutive relationships are drawn from elasticity, biophysics, fluid mechanics, hydrodynamics, acoustics, and electromagnetics to illustrate how machine learning-inspired optimization can approximate solutions to forward and inverse problems in these domains. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C01.
G. Barbastathis
No textbook information available

2.C51 Physical Systems Modeling and Design Using Machine Learning
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
(Subject meets with 2.C01)
Prereq: 6.C51 and (18.0751 or 18.0851)
Units: 1-3-2
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: F11-1 (3-270)
______
Building on core material in 6.C51, encourages open-ended exploration of the increasingly topical intersection between artificial intelligence and the physical sciences. Uses energy and information, and their respective optimality conditions, to define supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms as well as ordinary and partial differential equations. Subsequently, physical systems with complex constitutive relationships are drawn from elasticity, biophysics, fluid mechanics, hydrodynamics, acoustics, and electromagnetics to illustrate how machine learning-inspired optimization can approximate solutions to forward and inverse problems in these domains. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C51.
G. Barbastathis
No textbook information available

3.C01[J] Machine Learning for Molecular Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 10.C01[J], 20.C01[J])
(Subject meets with 3.C51[J], 7.C01, 7.C51, 10.C51[J], 20.C51[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), 6.100A, and 6.C01
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3 (45-230)
______
Building on core material in 6.C01, provides an introduction to the use of machine learning to solve problems arising in the science and engineering of biology, chemistry, and materials. Equips students to design and implement machine learning approaches to challenges such as analysis of omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, etc.), microscopy, spectroscopy, or crystallography data and design of new molecules and materials such as drugs, catalysts, polymer, alloys, ceramics, and proteins. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C01.
R. Gomez-Bombarelli, C. Coley, E. Fraenkel, J. Davis
No textbook information available

3.C51[J] Machine Learning for Molecular Engineering
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 10.C51[J], 20.C51[J])
(Subject meets with 3.C01[J], 7.C01, 7.C51, 10.C01[J], 20.C01[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), 6.100A, and 6.C51
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3 (45-230)
______
Building on core material in 6.C51, provides an introduction to the use of machine learning to solve problems arising in the science and engineering of biology, chemistry, and materials. Equips students to design and implement machine learning approaches to challenges such as analysis of omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, etc.), microscopy, spectroscopy, or crystallography data and design of new molecules and materials such as drugs, catalysts, polymer, alloys, ceramics, and proteins. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C51.
R. Gomez-Bombarelli, C. Coley, E. Fraenkel, J. Davis
No textbook information available

6.C01 Modeling with Machine Learning: from Algorithms to Applications
______

Undergrad (Spring); first half of term
(Subject meets with 6.C51)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and 6.100A; Coreq: 1.C01, 2.C01, 3.C01, 6.C011, 7.C01, or 22.C01
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: MW2.30-4 (32-123)
______
Focuses on modeling with machine learning methods with an eye towards applications in engineering and sciences. Introduction to modern machine learning methods, from supervised to unsupervised models, with an emphasis on newer neural approaches. Emphasis on the understanding of how and why the methods work from the point of view of modeling, and when they are applicable. Using concrete examples, covers formulation of machine learning tasks, adapting and extending methods to given problems, and how the methods can and should be evaluated. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of a 6-unit disciplinary module in the same semester. Enrollment may be limited.
Staff
No textbook information available

6.C06[J] Linear Algebra and Optimization
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 18.C06[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.06, 18.700, ES.1806
______
Introductory course in linear algebra and optimization, assuming no prior exposure to linear algebra and starting from the basics, including vectors, matrices, eigenvalues, singular values, and least squares. Covers the basics in optimization including convex optimization, linear/quadratic programming, gradient descent, and regularization, building on insights from linear algebra. Explores a variety of applications in science and engineering, where the tools developed give powerful ways to understand complex systems and also extract structure from data.
Staff

6.C51 Modeling with Machine Learning: from Algorithms to Applications
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
(Subject meets with 6.C01)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and 6.100A; Coreq: 1.C51, 2.C51, 3.C51, 6.C511, 7.C51, 22.C51, or SCM.C51
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: MW2.30-4 (32-123)
______
Focuses on modeling with machine learning methods with an eye towards applications in engineering and sciences. Introduction to modern machine learning methods, from supervised to unsupervised models, with an emphasis on newer neural approaches. Emphasis on the understanding of how and why the methods work from the point of view of modeling, and when they are applicable. Using concrete examples, covers formulation of machine learning tasks, adapting and extending methods to given problems, and how the methods can and should be evaluated. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of a 6-unit disciplinary module in the same semester. Enrollment may be limited.
R. Barzilay, M. Ghassemi
No textbook information available

6.C57[J] Optimization Methods
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 15.C57[J], IDS.C57[J])
(Subject meets with 6.C571[J], 15.C571[J])
Prereq: 18.C06 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to the methods and applications of optimization. Topics include linear optimization, duality, non-linear optimization, integer optimization, and optimization under uncertainty. Instruction provided in modeling techniques to address problems arising in practice, mathematical theory to understand the structure of optimization problems, computational algorithms to solve complex optimization problems, and practical applications. Covers several examples and in-depth case studies based on real-world data to showcase impactful applications of optimization across management and engineering. Computational exercises based on the Julia-based programming language JuMP. Includes a term project. Basic competency in computational programming and linear algebra recommended. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. This subject was previously listed as 15.093/6.7200/IDS.200.
A. Jacquillat, H. Lu

6.C571[J] Optimization Methods
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 15.C571[J])
(Subject meets with 6.C57[J], 15.C57[J], IDS.C57[J])
Prereq: 18.C06 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to the methods and applications of optimization. Topics include linear optimization, duality, non-linear optimization, integer optimization, and optimization under uncertainty. Instruction provided in modeling techniques to address problems arising in practice, mathematical theory to understand the structure of optimization problems, computational algorithms to solve complex optimization problems, and practical applications. Covers several examples and in-depth case studies based on real-world data to showcase impactful applications of optimization across management and engineering. Computational exercises based on the Julia-based programming language JuMP. Includes a term project. Basic competency in computational programming and linear algebra recommended. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. This subject was previously listed as 6.7201. One section primarily reserved for Sloan students; check syllabus for details.
A. Jacquillat, H. Lu

7.C01 Machine Learning in Molecular and Cellular Biology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.C01[J], 3.C51[J], 7.C51, 10.C01[J], 10.C51[J], 20.C01[J], 20.C51[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR), 6.100A, 6.C01, and 7.05
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3 (45-230)
______
Introduces machine learning as a tool to understand natural biological systems, with an evolving emphasis on problems in molecular and cellular biology that are being actively advanced using machine learning. Students design, implement, and interpret machine learning approaches to aid in predicting protein structure, probing protein structure/function relationships, and imaging biological systems at scales ranging from the atomic to cellular. Students taking graduate version complete an additional project-based assignment. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C01.
C. Coley, J. Davis, E. Fraenkel, R. Gomez-Bombarelli
No textbook information available

7.C51 Machine Learning in Molecular and Cellular Biology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.C01[J], 3.C51[J], 7.C01, 10.C01[J], 10.C51[J], 20.C01[J], 20.C51[J])
Prereq: Biology (GIR), 6.100A, 6.C51, and 7.05
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3 (45-230)
______
Introduces machine learning as a tool to understand natural biological systems, with an evolving emphasis on problems in molecular and cellular biology that are being actively advanced using machine learning. Students design, implement, and interpret machine learning approaches to aid in predicting protein structure, probing protein structure/function relationships, and imaging biological systems at scales ranging from the atomic to cellular. Students taking graduate version complete an additional project-based assignment. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C51.
C. Coley, J. Davis, E. Fraenkel, R. Gomez-Bombarelli
No textbook information available

10.C01[J] Machine Learning for Molecular Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 3.C01[J], 20.C01[J])
(Subject meets with 3.C51[J], 7.C01, 7.C51, 10.C51[J], 20.C51[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), 6.100A, and 6.C01
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3 (45-230)
______
Building on core material in 6.C01, provides an introduction to the use of machine learning to solve problems arising in the science and engineering of biology, chemistry, and materials. Equips students to design and implement machine learning approaches to challenges such as analysis of omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, etc.), microscopy, spectroscopy, or crystallography data and design of new molecules and materials such as drugs, catalysts, polymer, alloys, ceramics, and proteins. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C01.
R. Gomez-Bombarelli, C. Coley, E. Fraenkel, J. Davis
No textbook information available

10.C51[J] Machine Learning for Molecular Engineering
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 3.C51[J], 20.C51[J])
(Subject meets with 3.C01[J], 7.C01, 7.C51, 10.C01[J], 20.C01[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), 6.100A, and 6.C51
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3 (45-230)
______
Building on core material in 6.C51, provides an introduction to the use of machine learning to solve problems arising in the science and engineering of biology, chemistry, and materials. Equips students to design and implement machine learning approaches to challenges such as analysis of omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, etc.), microscopy, spectroscopy, or crystallography data and design of new molecules and materials such as drugs, catalysts, polymer, alloys, ceramics, and proteins. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C51.
R. Gomez-Bombarelli, C. Coley, E. Fraenkel, J. Davis
No textbook information available

15.C08[J] Causal Inference
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 17.C08[J])
Prereq: 6.3800, 6.3900, 6.C01, 14.32, 17.803, 18.05, 18.650, or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Provides an accessible overview of modern quantitative methods for causal inference: testing whether an action causes an outcome to occur. Makes heavy use of applied, real-data examples using Python or R and drawn from the participating domains (economics, political science, business, public policy, etc.). Covers topics including potential outcomes, causal graphs, randomized controlled trials, observational studies, instrumental variable estimation, and a contrast with machine learning techniques. Seeks to provide an intuitive understanding of the core concepts and techniques to help students produce and consume evidence of causal claims.
J. Doyle, R. Rigobon, T. Yamamoto

15.C57[J] Optimization Methods
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.C57[J], IDS.C57[J])
(Subject meets with 6.C571[J], 15.C571[J])
Prereq: 18.C06 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to the methods and applications of optimization. Topics include linear optimization, duality, non-linear optimization, integer optimization, and optimization under uncertainty. Instruction provided in modeling techniques to address problems arising in practice, mathematical theory to understand the structure of optimization problems, computational algorithms to solve complex optimization problems, and practical applications. Covers several examples and in-depth case studies based on real-world data to showcase impactful applications of optimization across management and engineering. Computational exercises based on the Julia-based programming language JuMP. Includes a term project. Basic competency in computational programming and linear algebra recommended. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. This subject was previously listed as 15.093/6.7200/IDS.200.
A. Jacquillat, H. Lu

15.C571[J] Optimization Methods
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.C571[J])
(Subject meets with 6.C57[J], 15.C57[J], IDS.C57[J])
Prereq: 18.C06 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to the methods and applications of optimization. Topics include linear optimization, duality, non-linear optimization, integer optimization, and optimization under uncertainty. Instruction provided in modeling techniques to address problems arising in practice, mathematical theory to understand the structure of optimization problems, computational algorithms to solve complex optimization problems, and practical applications. Covers several examples and in-depth case studies based on real-world data to showcase impactful applications of optimization across management and engineering. Computational exercises based on the Julia-based programming language JuMP. Includes a term project. Basic competency in computational programming and linear algebra recommended. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. This subject was previously listed as 6.7201. One section primarily reserved for Sloan students; check syllabus for details.
A. Jacquillat, H. Lu

17.C08[J] Causal Inference
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 15.C08[J])
Prereq: 6.3800, 6.3900, 6.C01, 14.32, 17.803, 18.05, 18.650, or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Provides an accessible overview of modern quantitative methods for causal inference: testing whether an action causes an outcome to occur. Makes heavy use of applied, real-data examples using Python or R and drawn from the participating domains (economics, political science, business, public policy, etc.). Covers topics including potential outcomes, causal graphs, randomized controlled trials, observational studies, instrumental variable estimation, and a contrast with machine learning techniques. Seeks to provide an intuitive understanding of the core concepts and techniques to help students produce and consume evidence of causal claims.
J. Doyle, R. Rigobon, T. Yamamoto

18.C06[J] Linear Algebra and Optimization
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 6.C06[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.06, 18.700, ES.1806
______
Introductory course in linear algebra and optimization, assuming no prior exposure to linear algebra and starting from the basics, including vectors, matrices, eigenvalues, singular values, and least squares. Covers the basics in optimization including convex optimization, linear/quadratic programming, gradient descent, and regularization, building on insights from linear algebra. Explores a variety of applications in science and engineering, where the tools developed give powerful ways to understand complex systems and also extract structure from data.
Staff

20.C01[J] Machine Learning for Molecular Engineering
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 3.C01[J], 10.C01[J])
(Subject meets with 3.C51[J], 7.C01, 7.C51, 10.C51[J], 20.C51[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), 6.100A, and 6.C01
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3 (45-230)
______
Building on core material in 6.C01, provides an introduction to the use of machine learning to solve problems arising in the science and engineering of biology, chemistry, and materials. Equips students to design and implement machine learning approaches to challenges such as analysis of omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, etc.), microscopy, spectroscopy, or crystallography data and design of new molecules and materials such as drugs, catalysts, polymer, alloys, ceramics, and proteins. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C01.
R. Gomez-Bombarelli, C. Coley, E. Fraenkel, J. Davis
No textbook information available

20.C51[J] Machine Learning for Molecular Engineering
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 3.C51[J], 10.C51[J])
(Subject meets with 3.C01[J], 7.C01, 7.C51, 10.C01[J], 20.C01[J])
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), 6.100A, and 6.C51
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3 (45-230)
______
Building on core material in 6.C51, provides an introduction to the use of machine learning to solve problems arising in the science and engineering of biology, chemistry, and materials. Equips students to design and implement machine learning approaches to challenges such as analysis of omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, etc.), microscopy, spectroscopy, or crystallography data and design of new molecules and materials such as drugs, catalysts, polymer, alloys, ceramics, and proteins. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C51.
R. Gomez-Bombarelli, C. Coley, E. Fraenkel, J. Davis
No textbook information available

22.C01 Modeling with Machine Learning: Nuclear Science and Engineering Applications
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 22.C51)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), 6.100A, and 6.C01
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW9.30-11 (24-115)
______
Building on core material in 6.C01, focuses on applying various machine learning techniques to a broad range of topics which are of core value in modern nuclear science and engineering. Relevant topics include machine learning on fusion and plasma diagnosis, reactor physics and nuclear fission, nuclear materials properties, quantum engineering and nuclear materials, and nuclear security. Special components center on the additional machine learning architectures that are most relevant to a certain field, the implementation, and picking up the right problems to solve using a machine learning approach. Final project dedicated to the field-specific applications. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C01.
Staff
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

22.C51 Modeling with Machine Learning: Nuclear Science and Engineering Applications
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 22.C01)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR), 6.100A, and 6.C51
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW9.30-11 (24-115)
______
Building on core material in 6.C51, focuses on applying various machine learning techniques to a broad range of topics which are of core value in modern nuclear science and engineering. Relevant topics include machine learning on fusion and plasma diagnosis, reactor physics and nuclear fission, nuclear materials properties, quantum engineering and nuclear materials, and nuclear security. Special components center on the additional machine learning architectures that are most relevant to a certain field, the implementation, and picking up the right problems to solve using a machine learning approach. Final project dedicated to the field-specific applications. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C51.
Staff
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.C57[J] Optimization Methods
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.C57[J], 15.C57[J])
(Subject meets with 6.C571[J], 15.C571[J])
Prereq: 18.C06 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to the methods and applications of optimization. Topics include linear optimization, duality, non-linear optimization, integer optimization, and optimization under uncertainty. Instruction provided in modeling techniques to address problems arising in practice, mathematical theory to understand the structure of optimization problems, computational algorithms to solve complex optimization problems, and practical applications. Covers several examples and in-depth case studies based on real-world data to showcase impactful applications of optimization across management and engineering. Computational exercises based on the Julia-based programming language JuMP. Includes a term project. Basic competency in computational programming and linear algebra recommended. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. This subject was previously listed as 15.093/6.7200/IDS.200.
A. Jacquillat, H. Lu

SCM.C51 Machine Learning Applications for Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 6.C51 and (SCM.254 or permission of instructor)
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR2.30-4 (E51-372)
______
Building on core material in 6.C51, applies selected machine learning models to build practical, data-driven implementations addressing key business problems in supply chain management. Discusses challenges that typically arise in these practical implementations. Addresses relevant elements for large scale productionalization and monitoring of machine learning models in practice. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C51.
I. Jackson
No required or recommended textbooks

Computational Thinking

1.C25[J] Real World Computation with Julia
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.C25[J], 12.C25[J], 16.C25[J], 18.C25[J], 22.C25[J])
Prereq: 6.100A, 18.03, and 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on algorithms and techniques for writing and using modern technical software in a job, lab, or research group environment that may consist of interdisciplinary teams, where performance may be critical, and where the software needs to be flexible and adaptable. Topics include automatic differentiation, matrix calculus, scientific machine learning, parallel and GPU computing, and performance optimization with introductory applications to climate science, economics, agent-based modeling, and other areas. Labs and projects focus on performant, readable, composable algorithms, and software. Programming will be in Julia. Expects students to have some familiarity with Python, Matlab, or R. No Julia experience necessary.
A. Edelman, R. Ferrari, B. Forget, C. Leiseron,Y. Marzouk, J. Williams

2.C27[J] Computational Imaging: Physics and Algorithms
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 3.C27[J], 6.C27[J])
(Subject meets with 2.C67[J], 3.C67[J], 6.C67[J])
Prereq: 18.C06 and (1.00, 1.000, 2.086, 3.019, or 6.100A)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the contemporary computational understanding of imaging: encoding information about a physical object onto a form of radiation, transferring the radiation through an imaging system, converting it to a digital signal, and computationally decoding and presenting the information to the user. Introduces a unified formulation of computational imaging systems as a three-round "learning spiral": the first two rounds describe the physical and algorithmic parts in two exemplary imaging systems. The third round involves a class project on an imaging system chosen by students. Undergraduate and graduate versions share lectures but have different recitations. Involves optional "clinics" to even out background knowledge of linear algebra, optimization, and computational imaging-related programming best practices for students of diverse disciplinary backgrounds. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

2.C67[J] Computational Imaging: Physics and Algorithms
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 3.C67[J], 6.C67[J])
(Subject meets with 2.C27[J], 3.C27[J], 6.C27[J])
Prereq: 18.C06 and (1.00, 1.000, 2.086, 3.019, or 6.100A)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Contemporary understanding of imaging is computational: encoding onto a form of radiation the information about a physical object, transferring the radiation through the imaging system, converting it to a digital signal, and computationally decoding and presenting the information to the user. This class introduces a unified formulation of computational imaging systems as a three-round "learning spiral": the first two rounds, instructors describe the physical and algorithmic parts in two exemplary imaging systems. The third round, students conduct themselves as the class project on an imaging system of their choice. The undergraduate and graduate versions share lectures but have different recitations. Throughout the term, we also conduct optional "clinics" to even out background knowledge of linear algebra, optimization, and computational imaging-related programming best practices for students of diverse disciplinary backgrounds.
Staff

3.C27[J] Computational Imaging: Physics and Algorithms
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.C27[J], 6.C27[J])
(Subject meets with 2.C67[J], 3.C67[J], 6.C67[J])
Prereq: 18.C06 and (1.00, 1.000, 2.086, 3.019, or 6.100A)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the contemporary computational understanding of imaging: encoding information about a physical object onto a form of radiation, transferring the radiation through an imaging system, converting it to a digital signal, and computationally decoding and presenting the information to the user. Introduces a unified formulation of computational imaging systems as a three-round "learning spiral": the first two rounds describe the physical and algorithmic parts in two exemplary imaging systems. The third round involves a class project on an imaging system chosen by students. Undergraduate and graduate versions share lectures but have different recitations. Involves optional "clinics" to even out background knowledge of linear algebra, optimization, and computational imaging-related programming best practices for students of diverse disciplinary backgrounds. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

3.C67[J] Computational Imaging: Physics and Algorithms
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.C67[J], 6.C67[J])
(Subject meets with 2.C27[J], 3.C27[J], 6.C27[J])
Prereq: 18.C06 and (1.00, 1.000, 2.086, 3.019, or 6.100A)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Contemporary understanding of imaging is computational: encoding onto a form of radiation the information about a physical object, transferring the radiation through the imaging system, converting it to a digital signal, and computationally decoding and presenting the information to the user. This class introduces a unified formulation of computational imaging systems as a three-round "learning spiral": the first two rounds, instructors describe the physical and algorithmic parts in two exemplary imaging systems. The third round, students conduct themselves as the class project on an imaging system of their choice. The undergraduate and graduate versions share lectures but have different recitations. Throughout the term, we also conduct optional "clinics" to even out background knowledge of linear algebra, optimization, and computational imaging-related programming best practices for students of diverse disciplinary backgrounds.
Staff

6.C25[J] Real World Computation with Julia
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.C25[J], 12.C25[J], 16.C25[J], 18.C25[J], 22.C25[J])
Prereq: 6.100A, 18.03, and 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on algorithms and techniques for writing and using modern technical software in a job, lab, or research group environment that may consist of interdisciplinary teams, where performance may be critical, and where the software needs to be flexible and adaptable. Topics include automatic differentiation, matrix calculus, scientific machine learning, parallel and GPU computing, and performance optimization with introductory applications to climate science, economics, agent-based modeling, and other areas. Labs and projects focus on performant, readable, composable algorithms, and software. Programming will be in Julia. Expects students to have some familiarity with Python, Matlab, or R. No Julia experience necessary.
A. Edelman, R. Ferrari, B. Forget, C. Leiseron,Y. Marzouk, J. Williams

6.C27[J] Computational Imaging: Physics and Algorithms
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.C27[J], 3.C27[J])
(Subject meets with 2.C67[J], 3.C67[J], 6.C67[J])
Prereq: 18.C06 and (1.00, 1.000, 2.086, 3.019, or 6.100A)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the contemporary computational understanding of imaging: encoding information about a physical object onto a form of radiation, transferring the radiation through an imaging system, converting it to a digital signal, and computationally decoding and presenting the information to the user. Introduces a unified formulation of computational imaging systems as a three-round "learning spiral": the first two rounds describe the physical and algorithmic parts in two exemplary imaging systems. The third round involves a class project on an imaging system chosen by students. Undergraduate and graduate versions share lectures but have different recitations. Involves optional "clinics" to even out background knowledge of linear algebra, optimization, and computational imaging-related programming best practices for students of diverse disciplinary backgrounds. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

6.C67[J] Computational Imaging: Physics and Algorithms
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.C67[J], 3.C67[J])
(Subject meets with 2.C27[J], 3.C27[J], 6.C27[J])
Prereq: 18.C06 and (1.00, 1.000, 2.086, 3.019, or 6.100A)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Contemporary understanding of imaging is computational: encoding onto a form of radiation the information about a physical object, transferring the radiation through the imaging system, converting it to a digital signal, and computationally decoding and presenting the information to the user. This class introduces a unified formulation of computational imaging systems as a three-round "learning spiral": the first two rounds, instructors describe the physical and algorithmic parts in two exemplary imaging systems. The third round, students conduct themselves as the class project on an imaging system of their choice. The undergraduate and graduate versions share lectures but have different recitations. Throughout the term, we also conduct optional "clinics" to even out background knowledge of linear algebra, optimization, and computational imaging-related programming best practices for students of diverse disciplinary backgrounds.
Staff

12.C25[J] Real World Computation with Julia
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.C25[J], 6.C25[J], 16.C25[J], 18.C25[J], 22.C25[J])
Prereq: 6.100A, 18.03, and 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on algorithms and techniques for writing and using modern technical software in a job, lab, or research group environment that may consist of interdisciplinary teams, where performance may be critical, and where the software needs to be flexible and adaptable. Topics include automatic differentiation, matrix calculus, scientific machine learning, parallel and GPU computing, and performance optimization with introductory applications to climate science, economics, agent-based modeling, and other areas. Labs and projects focus on performant, readable, composable algorithms, and software. Programming will be in Julia. Expects students to have some familiarity with Python, Matlab, or R. No Julia experience necessary.
A. Edelman, R. Ferrari, B. Forget, C. Leiseron,Y. Marzouk, J. Williams

16.C25[J] Real World Computation with Julia
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.C25[J], 6.C25[J], 12.C25[J], 18.C25[J], 22.C25[J])
Prereq: 6.100A, 18.03, and 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on algorithms and techniques for writing and using modern technical software in a job, lab, or research group environment that may consist of interdisciplinary teams, where performance may be critical, and where the software needs to be flexible and adaptable. Topics include automatic differentiation, matrix calculus, scientific machine learning, parallel and GPU computing, and performance optimization with introductory applications to climate science, economics, agent-based modeling, and other areas. Labs and projects focus on performant, readable, composable algorithms, and software. Programming will be in Julia. Expects students to have some familiarity with Python, Matlab, or R. No Julia experience necessary.
A. Edelman, R. Ferrari, B. Forget, C. Leiseron,Y. Marzouk, J. Williams

18.C25[J] Real World Computation with Julia
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.C25[J], 6.C25[J], 12.C25[J], 16.C25[J], 22.C25[J])
Prereq: 6.100A, 18.03, and 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on algorithms and techniques for writing and using modern technical software in a job, lab, or research group environment that may consist of interdisciplinary teams, where performance may be critical, and where the software needs to be flexible and adaptable. Topics include automatic differentiation, matrix calculus, scientific machine learning, parallel and GPU computing, and performance optimization with introductory applications to climate science, economics, agent-based modeling, and other areas. Labs and projects focus on performant, readable, composable algorithms, and software. Programming will be in Julia. Expects students to have some familiarity with Python, Matlab, or R. No Julia experience necessary.
A. Edelman, R. Ferrari, B. Forget, C. Leiseron,Y. Marzouk, J. Williams

22.C25[J] Real World Computation with Julia
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.C25[J], 6.C25[J], 12.C25[J], 16.C25[J], 18.C25[J])
Prereq: 6.100A, 18.03, and 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on algorithms and techniques for writing and using modern technical software in a job, lab, or research group environment that may consist of interdisciplinary teams, where performance may be critical, and where the software needs to be flexible and adaptable. Topics include automatic differentiation, matrix calculus, scientific machine learning, parallel and GPU computing, and performance optimization with introductory applications to climate science, economics, agent-based modeling, and other areas. Labs and projects focus on performant, readable, composable algorithms, and software. Programming will be in Julia. Expects students to have some familiarity with Python, Matlab, or R. No Julia experience necessary.
A. Edelman, R. Ferrari, B. Forget, C. Leiseron,Y. Marzouk, J. Williams

Computational Science and Engineering

9.C20[J] Introduction to Computational Science and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 16.C20[J], 18.C20[J], CSE.C20[J])
Prereq: 6.100A; Coreq: 8.01 and 18.01
Units: 2-0-4
Credit cannot also be received for 6.100B
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3-4.30 (37-212)
______
Provides an introduction to computational algorithms used throughout engineering and science (natural and social) to simulate time-dependent phenomena; optimize and control systems; and quantify uncertainty in problems involving randomness, including an introduction to probability and statistics. Combination of 6.100A and 16.C20J counts as REST subject.
Fall: D.L. Darmofal, N. Seethapathi
Spring: L. Demanet, N. Seethapathi
No textbook information available

16.C20[J] Introduction to Computational Science and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 9.C20[J], 18.C20[J], CSE.C20[J])
Prereq: 6.100A; Coreq: 8.01 and 18.01
Units: 2-0-4
Credit cannot also be received for 6.100B
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3-4.30 (37-212)
______
Provides an introduction to computational algorithms used throughout engineering and science (natural and social) to simulate time-dependent phenomena; optimize and control systems; and quantify uncertainty in problems involving randomness, including an introduction to probability and statistics. Combination of 6.100A and 16.C20J counts as REST subject.
Fall: D.L. Darmofal, N. Seethapathi
Spring: L. Demanet, N. Seethapathi
No textbook information available

18.C20[J] Introduction to Computational Science and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 9.C20[J], 16.C20[J], CSE.C20[J])
Prereq: 6.100A; Coreq: 8.01 and 18.01
Units: 2-0-4
Credit cannot also be received for 6.100B
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3-4.30 (37-212)
______
Provides an introduction to computational algorithms used throughout engineering and science (natural and social) to simulate time-dependent phenomena; optimize and control systems; and quantify uncertainty in problems involving randomness, including an introduction to probability and statistics. Combination of 6.100A and 16.C20J counts as REST subject.
Fall: D.L. Darmofal, N. Seethapathi
Spring: L. Demanet, N. Seethapathi
No textbook information available

CSE.C20[J] Introduction to Computational Science and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 9.C20[J], 16.C20[J], 18.C20[J])
Prereq: 6.100A; Coreq: 8.01 and 18.01
Units: 2-0-4
Credit cannot also be received for 6.100B
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3-4.30 (37-212)
______
Provides an introduction to computational algorithms used throughout engineering and science (natural and social) to simulate time-dependent phenomena; optimize and control systems; and quantify uncertainty in problems involving randomness, including an introduction to probability and statistics. Combination of 6.100A and 16.C20J counts as REST subject.
Fall: D.L. Darmofal, N. Seethapathi
Spring: L. Demanet, N. Seethapathi
No textbook information available

Digital Humanities and Social Science

6.C35[J] Interactive Data Visualization and Society
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 11.C35[J], CMS.C35[J], IDS.C35[J])
(Subject meets with 6.C85[J], 11.C85[J], IDS.C85[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-4-8
Credit cannot also be received for 6.8530, 11.154, 11.454
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (45-230) Lab: R3 (45-102)
______
Covers the design, ethical, and technical skills for creating effective visualizations. Short assignments build familiarity with the data analysis and visualization design process. Weekly lab sessions present coding and technical skills. A final project provides experience working with real-world big data, provided by external partners, in order to expose and communicate insights about societal issues. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited. Enrollment limited.
C. D'Ignazio, C. Lee, A. Satyanarayan
No textbook information available

6.C40[J] Ethics of Computing
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 24.C40[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores ethical questions raised by the potentially transformative power of computing technologies. Topics include: lessons from the history of transformative technologies; the status of property and privacy rights in the digital realm; effective accelerationism, AI alignment, and existential risk; algorithmic bias and algorithmic fairness; and free speech, disinformation, and polarization on online platforms.
B. Skow, A. Solar-Lezama

6.C85[J] Interactive Data Visualization and Society
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 11.C85[J], IDS.C85[J])
(Subject meets with 6.C35[J], 11.C35[J], CMS.C35[J], IDS.C35[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-1-8
Credit cannot also be received for 6.8530, 11.154, 11.454
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (45-230) Lab: R4 (32-082)
______
Covers the design, ethical, and technical skills for creating effective visualizations. Short assignments build familiarity with the data analysis and visualization design process. Students participate in hour-long studio reading sessions. A final project provides experience working with real-world big data, provided by external partners, in order to expose and communicate insights about societal issues. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. D'Ignazio, C. Lee, A. Satyanarayan
No textbook information available

11.C35[J] Interactive Data Visualization and Society
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.C35[J], CMS.C35[J], IDS.C35[J])
(Subject meets with 6.C85[J], 11.C85[J], IDS.C85[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-4-8
Credit cannot also be received for 6.8530, 11.154, 11.454
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (45-230) Lab: R3 (45-102)
______
Covers the design, ethical, and technical skills for creating effective visualizations. Short assignments build familiarity with the data analysis and visualization design process. Weekly lab sessions present coding and technical skills. A final project provides experience working with real-world big data, provided by external partners, in order to expose and communicate insights about societal issues. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited. Enrollment limited.
C. D'Ignazio, C. Lee, A. Satyanarayan
No textbook information available

11.C85[J] Interactive Data Visualization and Society
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.C85[J], IDS.C85[J])
(Subject meets with 6.C35[J], 11.C35[J], CMS.C35[J], IDS.C35[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-1-8
Credit cannot also be received for 6.8530, 11.154, 11.454
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (45-230) Lab: R4 (32-082)
______
Covers the design, ethical, and technical skills for creating effective visualizations. Short assignments build familiarity with the data analysis and visualization design process. Students participate in hour-long studio reading sessions. A final project provides experience working with real-world big data, provided by external partners, in order to expose and communicate insights about societal issues. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. D'Ignazio, C. Lee, A. Satyanarayan
No textbook information available

21H.C30 Encoding Culture: Computation Methods in the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Elective
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 6.100A, 6.100B, or 6.100L
Units: 3-0-9
______
Applies computational methods for manipulating and analyzing encoded media, and draws from a wide range of practices including computational linguistics, audio processing, computer vision, and machine learning. Explores what it means to digitally encode and analyze culture. Studies the history and current practice of digitally encoding text, images, audio, and tabular datasets, along with the cultural and social issues implicit in these systems. Confronts the underlying issues of what is lost and gained when we encode culture. Limited to 25.
Staff

24.C40[J] Ethics of Computing
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 6.C40[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores ethical questions raised by the potentially transformative power of computing technologies. Topics include: lessons from the history of transformative technologies; the status of property and privacy rights in the digital realm; effective accelerationism, AI alignment, and existential risk; algorithmic bias and algorithmic fairness; and free speech, disinformation, and polarization on online platforms.
B. Skow, A. Solar-Lezama


left arrow | CG | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Computational and Systems Biology
IAP/Spring 2025

CSB Home    IAP only    Evaluations (Certificates Required)
left arrow | CSB.00- CSB.ZZZ | right arrow

CSB.100[J] Topics in Computational and Systems Biology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 7.89[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-10
______
Seminar based on research literature. Papers covered are selected to illustrate important problems and varied approaches in the field of computational and systems biology, and to provide students a framework from which to evaluate new developments. Preference to first-year CSB PhD students.
C. Burge

CSB.110 Research Rotations in Computational and Systems Biology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-12-0 [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Students carry out research rotations with MIT faculty members or principal investigators working in the field of computational and systems biology. Generally three one-month long rotations are pursued that together span theoretical and experimental approaches. Open only to CSB PhD students.
Fall: J. Carota
Spring: J. Carota
No required or recommended textbooks

CSB.190 Research Problems in Computational and Systems Biology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Directed research in the field of computational and systems biology. Open only to CSB PhD students.
Fall: J. Carota
Spring: J. Carota
No required or recommended textbooks

CSB.195 Professional Development in Computational and Systems Biology
______

Graduate (IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Required for CSB students in the doctoral program to fulfill their professional development requirement through self-directed professional activities. Professional development activities include: internships (with industry, government, or academia); attendance at scientific meetings, MIT IAP events, or career fairs;  participation in networking events or an entrepreneurship competition; training in teaching through the MIT Teaching and Learning lab; or the CAPD Path of Professorship. For an internship experience, prior authorization is required prior to enrollment; a report is required within two weeks of completion. Proposals subject to departmental approval. 
Staff
No textbook information available

CSB.199 Teaching Experience in Computational Systems Biology
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For qualified graduate students in the CSB graduate program interested in teaching. Classroom or laboratory teaching under the supervision of a faculty member.
Fall: J. Carota
IAP: J. Carota
Spring: J. Carota
No required or recommended textbooks

CSB.930[J] Research Experience in Biopharma
(New)
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 7.930[J], 20.930[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-10-0
______
Provides exposure to industrial science and develops skills necessary for success in such an environment. Under the guidance of an industrial mentor, students participate in on-site research at a local biopharmaceutical company where they observe and participate in industrial science. Serves as a real-time case study to internalize the factors that shape R&D in industry, including the purpose and scope of a project, key decision points in the past and future, and strategies for execution. Students utilize company resources and work with a scientific team to contribute to the goals of their assigned project; they then present project results to the company and class, emphasizing the logic that dictated their work and their ideas for future directions. Lecture component focuses on professional development.
Burge, Engelward, Meyer

CSB.THG Graduate Thesis
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research leading to the writing of PhD thesis; to be arranged by the student and the MIT faculty advisor.
Fall: J. Carota
IAP: J. Carota
Spring: J. Carota
No required or recommended textbooks


left arrow | CSB.00- CSB.ZZZ | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Center for Computational Science and Engineering
IAP/Spring 2025

    IAP only
left arrow | CSE.000-CSE.999 | right arrow

CSE.900 Doctoral Seminar in Computational Science and Engineering
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Interdisciplinary seminar explores diverse topics in computational science and engineering (CSE), featuring talks from Institute faculty and external speakers. Surveys current research in CSE methodologies and applications.  Discusses important open research areas, as well as the ethical context and implications of research advances in CSE.  Priority to first-year CSE PhD students.
N. Hadjiconstantinou

CSE.999 Experiential Learning in Computational Science and Engineering
______

Graduate (Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
For graduate students in Center for Computational Science and Engineering (CCSE) programs participating in curriculum-related off-campus experiential learning opportunities in computational science and engineering and related areas. Students are responsible for arranging the experiential learning opportunity. Prior to enrolling, students must contact the CCSE Academic Administrator for procedures and restrictions and must verify their arrangements by submitting a memo or email from the sponsoring organization along with MIT advisor endorsement to the CCSE Academic Administrator. Upon completion of the training experience students are required to submit a letter from the experiential advisor describing the goals accomplished along with a substantive final report for review and grading by the MIT advisor.
Staff

CSE.C20[J] Introduction to Computational Science and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 9.C20[J], 16.C20[J], 18.C20[J])
Prereq: 6.100A; Coreq: 8.01 and 18.01
Units: 2-0-4
Credit cannot also be received for 6.100B
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW3-4.30 (37-212)
______
Provides an introduction to computational algorithms used throughout engineering and science (natural and social) to simulate time-dependent phenomena; optimize and control systems; and quantify uncertainty in problems involving randomness, including an introduction to probability and statistics. Combination of 6.100A and 16.C20J counts as REST subject.
Fall: D.L. Darmofal, N. Seethapathi
Spring: L. Demanet, N. Seethapathi
No textbook information available

CSE.IND Independent Study
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study or experiential learning, under regular supervision by a faculty member. Projects require prior approval.
Fall: K. Nelson
IAP: K. Nelson
Spring: K. Nelson
No textbook information available

CSE.S99 Special Subject in Computational Science & Engineering
(New)
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Covers subject matter not offered in the regular curriculum. Consult CCSE to learn of offerings for a particular term.
Staff

CSE.THG Graduate Thesis
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research and writing of thesis for Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) graduate students; to be arranged by the student in conjunction with the faculty advisor, with CCSE approval.
Fall: K. Nelson
IAP: K. Nelson
Spring: K. Nelson
Textbooks arranged individually


left arrow | CSE.000-CSE.999 | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Edgerton Center
IAP/Spring 2025


The Edgerton Center specializes in experiential learning and offers interactive subjects in electronics, high-speed photography, and video production. The center is also the home of D-Lab classes (see EC.700-EC.792).

Seminars

EC.050 Re-create Experiments from History: Inform the Future from the Past
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring)
(Subject meets with EC.090)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-3-2 [P/D/F]
Lecture: T3 (4-402) Lab: T4,R3-5 (4-402)
______
Offers students alternative exploratory experience in teaching, learning, and researching. Through collaborative activities with open-ended experiments from diverse origins, participants re-create historical instruments and discoveries that challenged assumptions and sparked new investigations. Student curiosity and questions shape specific course content. Assignments include observations, experiments, readings, journal writing and sketching, and a final reflective paper. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Fall: E. Cavicchi
IAP: E. Cavicchi
Spring: Cavicchi, Elizabeth
No textbook information available

EC.074 The Start-up Experience at MIT
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
Explores some of the critical actions in starting up a technology-based business, including concept generation, searching prior art and patents, protecting intellectual property, founders agreements, forming and building teams, and work-life balance. Students review case studies and complete exercises that develop practicable knowledge in these areas. Each student keeps an "idea log book," which includes critical assessments of each case study, to be presented at the end of the term. First in a two-part series (seminars do not have to be taken sequentially; see EC.075 in spring term). Preference to undergraduates; open to graduate students with permission of advisor.
Staff

EC.075 Starting Up New Technology-Based Business Enterprises at MIT
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
Lecture: T EVE (7-9 PM) (4-402)
______
Seminar participants define and study the development stages of new enterprises at MIT, from the exciting moment a new idea for a tech product or service is realized, through to selling, customer support, and the next new idea. Follows the history of successful MIT spin-off companies with attention to the people (and their ideas) behind the start-up. Students attend MIT technology and science start-up case presentations given by individuals and teams working from zero-stage, and by partners in going concerns of historical relevance to the Institute and the economy. Second in a two-part series (seminars do not have to be taken sequentially; see EC.074 in fall term).
J. Hadzima
No textbook information available

EC.090 Re-create Experiments from History: Inform the Future from the Past
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring)
(Subject meets with EC.050)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-3-2
Lecture: T3 (4-402) Lab: T4,R3-5 (4-402)
______
Offers students alternative exploratory experience in teaching, learning, and researching. Through collaborative activities with open-ended experiments from diverse origins, participants re-create historical instruments and discoveries that challenged assumptions and sparked new investigations. Student curiosity and questions shape specific course content. Assignments include observations, experiments, readings, journal writing and sketching, and a final reflective paper. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Fall: Cavicchi, Elizabeth
IAP: Cavicchi, Elizabeth
Spring: Cavicchi, Elizabeth
No textbook information available

Electronics and Programming

EC.120[J] Electronics Project Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
(Same subject as 6.2020[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 1-2-3
Lecture: M EVE (7 PM) (4-409) Lab: M EVE (8-10 PM) (4-409)
______
Intuition-based introduction to electronics, electronic components, and test equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, and signal generators. Key components studied and used are op-amps, comparators, bi-polar transistors, and diodes (including LEDs). Students design, build, and debug small electronics projects (often featuring sound and light) to put their new knowledge into practice. Upon completing the class, students can take home a kit of components. Intended for students with little or no previous background in electronics. Enrollment may be limited.
Fall: J. Bales
Spring: J. Bales
No required or recommended textbooks

Imaging and Visualization

Media and Production

EC.305 Digital and Darkroom Imaging
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with EC.A305)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
Credit cannot also be received for EC.310
______
Students use both film and digital photography to develop a creative imaging project of their own choice. Develops skills in the use of image editing software to enhance, select, and combine images that the student has taken. Uses the darkroom to develop film for scanning and for chemical enlargement. Discusses topics such as the camera, composition, lighting, modes and formats, image compression, and halftone and dye sublimation printing. Students are expected to produce a duplicate set of black and white and/or color prints, along with a writeup and digital copy as the project output.
Staff

EC.310 Creative Imaging
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Elective
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-1-6
Credit cannot also be received for EC.305, EC.A305
______
Focuses on film and digital photography. Develops skill in the use of chemical darkrooms, scanners, digital printers and cameras to create striking still images capable of evoking strong emotional and intellectual responses from a viewer. Emphasizes the interplay between classical chemical and digital techniques and how they can be used to control the use of lighting, color, depth, and composition in an image. Students present their intermediate assignments to the class for critical discussion; at the end of the term, they submit a substantive project presenting their own creative images for critique and evaluation.
T. Mislick

Engineering and Design

Culture and International Experience

D-Lab

EC.700 D-Lab: Field Study
______

Undergrad (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: One D-Lab subject and permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Provides the opportunity to gain direct fieldwork experience in a global context. Subject spans three-four weeks in which students continue work from a prior D-Lab subject. Students work directly with international community partners to find solutions to real world problems, focusing on one or more issues in education, design, or public service. Group presentations and written reflection required.
S.L. Hsu
No textbook information available

EC.701[J] D-Lab: Development
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 11.025[J])
(Subject meets with 11.472[J], EC.781[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-7
______
Issues in international development, appropriate technology and project implementation addressed through lectures, case studies, guest speakers and laboratory exercises. Students form project teams to partner with community organizations in developing countries, and formulate plans for an optional IAP site visit. (Previous field sites include Ghana, Brazil, Honduras and India.) Recitation sections focus on specific project implementation, and include cultural, social, political, environmental and economic overviews of the target countries as well as an introduction to the local languages. Enrollment limited by lottery; must attend first class session.
S. L. Hsu, B. Sanyal

EC.703 Entrepreneurship for the Idealist
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with EC.783)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the nature of contemporary and historical injustices: their particularities, shared dynamics, tropes, myths, durability, and shape-shifting nature. Studies how innovation, technology, markets, and social enterprises relate to justice. Explores accompaniment — journeying, often literally, with the wronged until right is done — and its success in a broad range of settings. Instruction provided in designing accompaniment-centered approaches by picking a societal challenge, surveying and critiquing past efforts, and proposing a design of their own. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Bhardwaj, S. Hsu

EC.711[J] Introduction to Energy in Global Development
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.651[J])
(Subject meets with EC.791)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-7
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (N51-310) Lab: F1-3 (N51-310)
______
Surveys energy technologies including solar, wind, and hydro power; cooking; indoor heating; irrigation; and agricultural productivity through an international development context to impart energy literacy and common-sense applications. Focuses on compact, robust, low-cost systems for meeting the needs of household and small business. Provides an overview of identifying user needs, assessing the suitability of specific technologies, and strategies for implementation in developing countries. Labs reinforce lecture material through activities including system assembly and testing. Team projects involve activities including connecting with pre-selected community partners, product design and analysis, and continuing the development of ongoing projects. Optional summer fieldwork may be available. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited by lottery; must attend first class session.
Josh Maldonado
No textbook information available

EC.712[J] Applications of Energy in Global Development
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.652[J])
(Subject meets with EC.782)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Engages students in project-based learning, in collaboration with D-Lab community partners, to improve access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Teams work on off-grid energy projects addressing challenges in lighting, cooking, agricultural productivity, or other areas in collaboration with D-Lab community partners in developing countries. Project work includes assessment of user needs, technology identification, product design, prototyping, and development of implementation strategies to continue progress of ongoing projects. Optional IAP field visits may be available to test and implement the solutions developed during the semester. Students enrolled in the graduate version complete additional assignments.  Limited to 20; preference to students who have taken EC.711.
Staff

EC.713[J] D-Lab Schools: Building Technology Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall) Institute Lab
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 4.411[J])
(Subject meets with 4.412)
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 2-3-7
______
Focuses on the design, analysis, and application of technologies that support the construction of less expensive and better performing schools in developing countries. Prepares students to design or retrofit school buildings in partnership with local communities and NGOs. Strategies covered include daylighting, passive heating and cooling, improved indoor air quality via natural ventilation, appropriate material selection, and structural design. Investigations are based on application of engineering fundamentals, experiments and simulations. Case studies illustrate the role of technologies in reducing barriers to improved education. Additional work required of students taking the graduate version. Limited to 20 total for versions meeting together.
L. K. Norford

EC.715 D-Lab: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with 11.474)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (N51-310)
______
Focuses on disseminating Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) innovations in low-income countries and underserved communities worldwide. Structured around project-based learning, lectures, discussions, and student-led tutorials. Emphasizes core WASH principles, appropriate and sustainable technologies at household and community scales, urban challenges worldwide, culture-specific solutions, lessons from start-ups, collaborative partnerships, and social marketing. Mentored term project entails finding and implementing a viable solution focused on education/training; a technology, policy or plan; a marketing approach; and/or behavior change. Guest lecturers present case studies, emphasizing those developed and disseminated by MIT faculty, practitioners, students, and alumni. Field trips scheduled during class time, with optional field trips on weekends. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.  Limited to 20.
S. E. Murcott, S. L. Hsu
No textbook information available

EC.718[J] D-Lab: Gender and Development
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as WGS.277[J])
(Subject meets with EC.798)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores gender roles, illuminates the power dynamics and root causes of inequality, and provides a framework for understanding gender dynamics. Develops skills to conduct a gender analysis and integrate gender-sensitive strategies into large- and small-scale development solutions. Prompts critical discussion about social, economic, and political conditions that shape gender in development. Begins with exploration of international development in the post-colonial era, using a gender lens, then provides students with the tools to integrate gender-sensitive strategies into international development work, with a particular focus on launching, building and scaling women's ventures. Opportunities may be available for international fieldwork over IAP. Meets with 24.234 when offered concurrently. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 12; must attend first class session.
E. McDonald, S. Haslanger

EC.719 D-Lab: Climate Change and Planetary Health
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with EC.789)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-4-5
Lecture: R12-3 (N51-350) Lab: TBA
______
Examines the current state and future projections of climate change and its effects on human, ecosystem, and planetary health, and develops solutions for these challenges. Class is project-based, student-focused, experiential, and transdisciplinary. Emphasizes nature- and community-based solutions, both local and global, with a focus on environmental and climate justice. Participation and teamwork are fundamental, as are experiential activities such as field trips to zero-carbon buildings and to sites undergoing rapid transformation. Working individually or in teams, students develop a term project on a climate change or planetary health solution of their choice, applying knowledge and skills to craft innovative, sustainable real-world solutions. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Murcott, J. Simpson
No textbook information available

EC.720[J] D-Lab: Design
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.722[J])
Prereq: 2.670 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: M3-5,W3 (N51-310)
______
Addresses problems faced by underserved communities with a focus on design, experimentation, and prototyping processes. Particular attention placed on constraints faced when designing for developing countries. Multidisciplinary teams work on long-term projects in collaboration with community partners, field practitioners, and experts in relevant fields. Topics covered include design for affordability, manufacture, sustainability, and strategies for working effectively with community partners and customers. Students may continue projects begun in EC.701. Enrollment limited by lottery; must attend first class session.
E. Squibb
No textbook information available

EC.724 D-Lab: Smallholder Agriculture
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Provides an overview of the scientific, social, and economic context of smallholder farmers in developing countries. Covers the scientific basis and environmental impacts of agriculture, the dynamics of smallholder farming, social and business systems, and the experience of farmers themselves. Lectures, guest experts, experiential activities, and semester projects with community partners contribute to learning objectives. Opportunities for summer fieldwork may be available. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 15.
R. Nanes, G. Jones, S. Hsu

EC.725 Leadership in Design
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
Lecture: M3-5,W3 (N51-310)
______
Places special focus on team capacity building and the communication skills critical to design leadership. Multidisciplinary teams work on semester-long projects in collaboration with international organizations, field practitioners, and experts, building team and leadership skills used to address problems faced by underserved communities while implementing design, experimentation, and hands-on prototyping processes. Topics covered include human-centered design, design for affordability and remote manufacturing, sustainability, and strategies for working effectively with international partners. Limited to 20 students in the Gordon Engineering Leadership Program.
E. Squibb
No textbook information available

EC.726 D-Lab: Build-Its
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with EC.796)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Engages students in the creation of "build-its," hands-on pedagogical tools developed by D-Lab to teach workshop and design skills to a diverse audience around the world. Studies principles of experiential learning and successful examples of teaching in makerspaces and innovation centers. Students develop their own build-it, test and evaluate it with local students, and create instructions for its use. Optional travel opportunities exist over the summer to test the build-it at a D-Lab summit or training abroad. Opportunities for funded travel available. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Opportunities for funded travel available. Limited to 16.
S. L. Hsu

EC.729[J] D-Lab: Design for Scale
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.729[J])
(Subject meets with 2.789[J], EC.797[J])
Prereq: None. Coreq: 2.008; or permission of instructor
Units: 3-2-7
______
Explores the external factors affecting product development for people in low-resource settings in a project-based context. Students apply existing engineering skills in interdisciplinary teams to identify contextual limitations and develop previously established prototypes towards manufacturing-ready product designs for real-world project sponsors. Topics are presented within the context of the developing world and include technology feasibility and scalability assessment; value chain analysis; product specification; and manufacturing methodologies at various scales. Lessons are experiential and case study-based, taught by instructors with field experience and industry experts from product development consulting firms and the consumer electronics industry. Students taking graduate version complete additional written assignments.
M. Yang, G. Connors, E. Young

EC.731[J] Global Ventures
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 15.375[J], MAS.665[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Seminar on founding, financing, and building entrepreneurial ventures in developing nations. Challenges students to craft enduring and economically viable solutions to the problems faced by these countries. Cases illustrate examples of both successful and failed businesses, and the difficulties in deploying and diffusing products and services through entrepreneurial action. Explores a range of established and emerging business models, as well as new business opportunities enabled by innovations emerging from MIT labs and beyond. Students develop a business plan executive summary suitable for submission in the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition's Accelerate Contest or MIT IDEAS.
R. Raskar

EC.733[J] D-Lab: Supply Chains
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 2.771[J], 15.772[J])
(Subject meets with 2.871)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Introduces concepts of supply chain design and planning with a focus on supply chains for products destined to improve quality of life in developing countries. Topics include demand estimation, process analysis and improvement, facility location and capacity planning, inventory management, and supply chain coordination. Also covers issues specific to emerging markets, such as sustainable supply chains, choice of distribution channels, and how to account for the value-adding role of a supply chain. Students conduct D-Lab-based projects on supply chain design or improvement. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

EC.735 Thermal Energy Networks for Rapid Decarbonization of Campus, Neighborhood, and City Buildings
(New)
______

Undergrad (IAP)
(Subject meets with EC.795)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
______
Provides a technical introduction to decarbonizing building energy systems via the fundamentals of thermal energy networks. Introductory lectures with required field trips to three Net Zero sites in the Boston area provide first-hand experience with the technologies and systems involved in building decarbonization (transportation is arranged and free). All field trips take place during class sessions. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments related to certified geothermal design training. 
S. Murcott, R. Clemenzi
No textbook information available

EC.740 D-Lab: Inclusive Economies
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
______
Explores how innovations and market mechanisms can benefit humanity by rallying impact investments, engaging participants cooperatively, boosting equity and resilience, and broadening prosperity. Examines the ideas behind, and actions towards, multiple inclusive economic mechanisms and approaches. Students review and analyze the competing worldviews and historical pathways that led to the current dominant economic modalities, and both theoretical and empirical criticisms. Includes case studies developing alternative opportunities, modifications, and/or improvements to crafting circular economies and reinforcing local economies. Team projects focus on the facilitation of inclusive economy models in partnership with communities in Latin America or Africa. Optional project-focused travel may be available over IAP. Limited to 12.
E. McDonald, K. Mytty, J. Bonsen

EC.744 Technologies for Mental Health and Wellness
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with EC.794)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-10
______
Introduction to new technologies used in the practice of psychiatry and psychology, with emphasis on mental health and wellness. Discusses the effect of technology on mental health and the human experience. Topics include social identity and connection, mood and anxiety disorders, sleep and dreams, chronobiology, addiction and substance abuse, behavior medicine, and wellness activities such as meditation. Guest lectures from domain-expert doctors and reading assignments identify current needs and challenges found in clinical practice. Reviews emerging technologies being applied to mental health, including chatbots, social robots, wearable sensors, AI, virtual reality, biofeedback, neuromodulation, and mobile phone phenotyping. Topics of privacy and ethical use discussed. Students complete readings and weekly written assignments and three group design projects. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. Fletcher, K. Hodges

EC.746[J] Design for Complex Environmental Issues
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.016[J], 2.00C[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-4
Lecture: MW3-4.30 (4-402) Recitation: F3-4.30 (4-402)
______
Working in small teams with real clients, students develop solutions related to the year's Terrascope topic. They have significant autonomy as they follow a full engineering design cycle from client profile through increasingly sophisticated prototypes to final product. Provides opportunities to acquire skills with power tools, workshop practice, design, product testing, and teamwork. Focuses on sustainability and appropriate technology that matches the client's specific situation and constraints. Products are exhibited in the public Bazaar of Ideas and evaluated by an expert panel. Class taught in collaboration with the Edgerton Center, D-Lab, and Beaver Works. Limited to first-year students. Preference given to students who have completed 12.000, but open to students outside Terrascope when space permits.
A. W. Epstein,D. Brancazio J. Grimm
No textbook information available

EC.750 Humanitarian Innovation: Design for Relief, Rebuilding, and Recovery
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with EC.785)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW1-3 (N51-305)
______
Explores the role innovation can and does play in how humanitarian aid is provided, and how it can impact people, products, and processes. Provides a fundamental background in the history and practice of humanitarian aid. Considers the various ways that design can be used to enhance aid, such as product and system design for affected populations, co-creation with affected populations, and capacity building to promote design by refugees and the displaced. Case studies and projects examine protracted displacement as well as recovery and resettlement, including efforts in Colombia, Lebanon, Nepal, Sudan, and Uganda. Potential for students to travel over the summer to partner communities.
A. Smith, M. Thompson
No textbook information available

EC.751 Hardware Design for International Development
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Subject meets with EC.793)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-7
______
Students explore possibilities of repurposed electronic devices in various sectors of development, including agriculture, education, health, and energy, for positive impact on people living in low-income communities. Guest lecturers provide insight into current trends in information and communication technology for development. Students work in teams to apply principles of participatory and inclusive design to projects developed in collaboration with community innovators in refugee camps in Northern Uganda and rural areas of Tanzania. Optional travel to Uganda and Tanzania during IAP with D-Lab field partners. Graduate students complete additional assignments.
H. Lee, E. McDonald

EC.770 D-Lab: Independent Project
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a staff member. Projects require prior approval, as well as a written proposal and final report. Students work with international community partners to continue developing projects, focusing on one or more issues in education, design, or public service. Final presentations and written reflection required. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of 12 units.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No textbook information available

EC.780 D-Lab: Independent Project
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a staff member. Projects require prior approval, as well as a written proposal and final report. Students work with international community partners to continue developing projects, focusing on one or more issues in education, design, or public service. Final presentations and written reflection required. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of 12 units.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No textbook information available

EC.781[J] D-Lab: Development
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 11.472[J])
(Subject meets with 11.025[J], EC.701[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-7
______
Issues in international development, appropriate technology and project implementation addressed through lectures, case studies, guest speakers and laboratory exercises. Students form project teams to partner with community organizations in developing countries, and formulate plans for an optional IAP site visit. (Previous field sites include Ghana, Brazil, Honduras and India.) Recitation sections focus on specific project implementation, and include cultural, social, political, environmental and economic overviews of the target countries as well as an introduction to the local languages. Enrollment limited by lottery; must attend first class session.
L. Hsu

EC.782 Applications of Energy in Global Development
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 2.652[J], EC.712[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
______
Engages students in project-based learning in collaboration with D-Lab community partners to improve access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Teams work on off-grid energy projects addressing challenges in lighting, cooking, agricultural productivity, or other areas in collaboration with D-Lab community partners in developing countries. Project work includes assessment of user needs, technology identification, product design, prototyping, and development of implementation strategies to continue progress of ongoing projects. Optional IAP field visits may be available to test and implement the solutions developed during the semester. Students enrolled in the graduate version complete additional assignments.  Limited to 20; preference to students who have taken EC.791.
Staff

EC.783 Entrepreneurship for the Idealist
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with EC.703)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the nature of contemporary and historical injustices: their particularities, shared dynamics, tropes, myths, durability, and shape-shifting nature. Studies how innovation, technology, markets, and social enterprises relate to justice. Explores accompaniment — journeying, often literally, with the wronged until right is done — and its success in a broad range of settings. Instruction provided in designing accompaniment-centered approaches by picking a societal challenge, surveying and critiquing past efforts, and proposing a design of their own. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Bhardwaj, S. Hsu

EC.784 D-Lab: Smallholder Agriculture
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Provides an overview of the scientific, social, and economic context of smallholder farmers in developing countries. Covers the scientific basis and environmental impacts of agriculture, the dynamics of smallholder farming, social and business systems, and the experience of farmers themselves. Lectures, guest experts, experiential activities, and semester projects with community partners contribute to learning objectives. Opportunities for summer fieldwork may be available. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 20.
R. Nanes, G. Jones, S. Hsu

EC.785 Humanitarian Innovation: Design for Relief, Rebuilding, and Recovery
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with EC.750)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MW1-3 (N51-305)
______
Explores the role innovation can and does play in how humanitarian aid is provided, and how it can impact people, products, and processes. Provides a fundamental background in the history and practice of humanitarian aid. Considers the various ways that design can be used to enhance aid, such as product and system design for affected populations, co-creation with affected populations, and capacity building to promote design by refugees and the displaced. Case studies and projects examine protracted displacement as well as recovery and resettlement, including efforts in Colombia, Lebanon, Nepal, Sudan, and Uganda. Potential for students to travel over the summer to partner communities.
A. Smith, M. Thompson
No textbook information available

EC.788 D-Lab: Field Research
______

Graduate (IAP)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Combines hands-on methods for conducting field research with exploration of questions that continue to challenge practitioners, donors, policymakers and researchers in international development. Designed for students preparing to conduct field-based research for theses, product design project, or development ventures. Practices key research skills particularly applicable to conducting research involving people and communities in the context of development. Limited to 16.
Staff

EC.789 D-Lab: Climate Change and Planetary Health
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with EC.719)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-4-5
Lecture: R12-3 (N51-350) Lab: TBA
______
Examines the current state and future projections of climate change and its effects on human, ecosystem, and planetary health, and develops solutions for these challenges. Class is project-based, student-focused, experiential, and transdisciplinary. Emphasizes nature- and community-based solutions, both local and global, with a focus on environmental and climate justice. Participation and teamwork are fundamental, as are experiential activities such as field trips to zero-carbon buildings and to sites undergoing rapid transformation. Working individually or in teams, students develop a term project on a climate change or planetary health solution of Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
S. Murcott
No textbook information available

EC.790 D-Lab: Field Study
______

Graduate (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: One D-Lab subject and permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Provides the opportunity to gain direct fieldwork experience in a global context. Subject spans three-four weeks in which students continue work from a prior D-Lab subject. Students work directly with international community partners to find solutions to real world problems, focusing on one or more issues in education, design, or public service. Group presentations and written reflection required.
L. Hsu
No textbook information available

EC.791 Introduction to Energy in Global Development
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 2.651[J], EC.711[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-7
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (N51-310) Lab: F1-3 (N51-310)
______
Surveys energy technologies including solar, wind, and hydro power; cooking; indoor heating; irrigation; and agricultural productivity through an international development context to impart energy literacy and common-sense applications. Focuses on compact, robust, low-cost systems for meeting the needs of household and small business. Provides an overview of identifying user needs, assessing the suitability of specific technologies, and strategies for implementation in developing countries. Labs reinforce lecture material through activities including system assembly and testing. Team projects involve activities including connecting with pre-selected community partners, product design and analysis, and continuing the development of ongoing projects. Optional summer fieldwork may be available. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited by lottery; must attend first class session.
Josh Maldonado
No textbook information available

EC.793 Hardware Design for International Development
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with EC.751)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-2-7
______
Students explore possibilities of repurposed electronic devices in various sectors of development, including agriculture, education, health, and energy, for positive impact on people living in low-income communities. Guest lecturers provide insight into current trends in information and communication technology for development. Students work in teams to apply principles of participatory and inclusive design to projects developed in collaboration with community innovators in refugee camps in Northern Uganda and rural areas of Tanzania. Optional travel to Uganda and Tanzania during IAP with D-Lab field partners. Graduate students complete additional assignments.
H. Lee, E. McDonald

EC.794 Technologies for Mental Health and Wellness
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with EC.744)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-10
______
Introduction to new technologies used in the practice of psychiatry and psychology, with emphasis on mental health wellness. The effect of technology on mental health and the human experience is discussed. Topics include social identity and connection, mood and anxiety disorders, sleep and dreams, chronobiology, addiction and substance abuse, behavior medicine, and wellness activities such as meditation. Guest lectures from domain-expert doctors and reading assignments identify current needs and challenges found in clinical practice. Emerging technologies being applied to mental health are reviewed including chatbots, social robots, wearable sensors, AI, virtual reality, biofeedback, neuromodulation, and mobile phone phenotyping. Topics of privacy and ethical use discussed. Students complete readings and weekly written assignments and three group design projects. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. Fletcher, K. Hodges

EC.795 Thermal Energy Networks for Rapid Decarbonization of Campus, Neighborhood, and City Buildings
(New)
______

Graduate (IAP)
(Subject meets with EC.735)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-0
______
Provides a technical introduction to decarbonizing building energy systems via the fundamentals of thermal energy networks. Introductory lectures with required field trips to three Net Zero sites in the Boston area provide first-hand experience with the technologies and systems involved in building decarbonization (transportation is arranged and free). All field trips take place during class sessions. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments related to certified geothermal design training. 
S. Murcott, R. Clemenzi
No textbook information available

EC.796 D-Lab: Build-Its
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with EC.726)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Engages students in the creation of "build-its," hands-on pedagogical tools developed by D-Lab to teach workshop and design skills to a diverse audience around the world. Studies principles of experiential learning and successful examples of teaching in makerspaces and innovation centers. Students develop their own build-it, test and evaluate it with local students, and create instructions for its use. Optional travel opportunities exist over the summer to test the build-it at a D-Lab summit or training abroad. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 16.
S. L. Hsu

EC.797[J] D-Lab: Design for Scale
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.789[J])
(Subject meets with 2.729[J], EC.729[J])
Prereq: None. Coreq: 2.008; or permission of instructor
Units: 3-2-7
______
Explores the external factors affecting product development for people in low-resource settings in a project-based context. Students apply existing engineering skills in interdisciplinary teams to identify contextual limitations and develop previously established prototypes towards manufacturing-ready product designs for real-world project sponsors. Topics are presented within the context of the developing world and include technology feasibility and scalability assessment; value chain analysis; product specification; and manufacturing methodologies at various scales. Lessons are experiential and case study-based, taught by instructors with field experience and industry experts from product development consulting firms and the consumer electronics industry. Students taking graduate version complete additional written assignments.
M. Yang, H. Quintus-Bosz, S. Grama

EC.798 D-Lab: Gender and Development
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with EC.718[J], WGS.277[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores gender roles, illuminates the power dynamics and root causes of inequality, and provides a framework for understanding gender dynamics. Develops skills to conduct a gender analysis and integrate gender-sensitive strategies into large- and small-scale development solutions. Prompts critical discussion about social, economic, and political conditions that shape gender in development. Begins with exploration of international development in the post-colonial era, using a gender lens, then provides students with the tools to integrate gender-sensitive strategies into international development work, with a particular focus on launching, building and scaling women's ventures. Opportunities may be available for international fieldwork over IAP. Meets with 24.634 when offered concurrently. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 12; must attend first class session.
E. McDonald, S. Haslanger

Teaching, UROP, Independent Study

EC.900 Independent Study
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a staff member. Projects require prior approval, as well as a written proposal and final report.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

EC.901 Edgerton Center Independent Study
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a staff member. Projects require prior approval, as well as a written proposal and final report.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

EC.910 Edgerton Center Undergraduate Teaching
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
An opportunity for undergraduates to participate in teaching and tutoring Center subjects and seminars. Students develop one-on-one teaching skills under the supervision of an Edgerton Center instructor.
Fall: J. Bales
IAP: J. Bales
Spring: J. Bales
No required or recommended textbooks

EC.980 Edgerton Center Independent Study - Graduate
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a staff member. Projects require prior approval, as well as a written proposal and final report.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

EC.988 The Social Life of Materials
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 3.088)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW12-1.30 (16-275)
______
Students carry out projects on a material of their choice and study its technical, humanistic, and environmental origins and trajectories of development through historical methods; evaluate its current status within a social and humanistic context; and then imagine and evaluate potential futures. Projects supported by topics and scholarship in sociotechnical systems, social innovation, environmental history and justice, equity-based human-centered design, and futures literacy. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. Ortiz, E. Spero
No textbook information available

EC.990 Edgerton Center Graduate Teaching
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
An opportunity for graduate students to participate in teaching and tutoring Edgerton Center subjects and seminars. Permission of Edgerton Center staff required.
Fall: J. Bales
IAP: J. Bales
Spring: J. Bales
No required or recommended textbooks

EC.UR Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in the Edgerton Center.
Fall: J. Bales
IAP: J. Bales
Spring: J. Bales
No required or recommended textbooks

EC.URG Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in the Edgerton Center.
Fall: J. Bales
IAP: J. Bales
Spring: J. Bales
No required or recommended textbooks

Special Subjects

EC.S00 Special Subject at the Edgerton Center
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Seminar combining lectures and lab run by students and academic staff at the Edgerton Center. Students explore specialized electronics, robotics, or mechanical design and fabrication topics not offered in the regular curriculum; classes range from beginner level to more advanced. Some offerings may be taught in an intensive fashion (meeting for up to several times a week for four weeks). Up to three sequential seminars may be offered per semester, covering a different topic each time. Students can take one or all of the seminars.
Fall: Brancazio, D., Staff
IAP: J. Bales
No required or recommended textbooks

EC.S01 Special Subject at the Edgerton Center
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Seminar combining lectures and lab run by students and academic staff at the Edgerton Center. Students explore specialized electronics, robotics, or mechanical design and fabrication topics not offered in the regular curriculum; classes range from beginner level to more advanced. Some offerings may be taught in an intensive fashion (meeting for up to several times a week for four weeks). Up to three sequential seminars may be offered per semester, covering a different topic each time. Students can take one or all of the seminars.
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff

EC.S02 Special Subject at the Edgerton Center
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
URL: IAP URL: https://calendar.mit.edu/event/mit_d-lab_build_your_own_bicycle_ecs02_ecs11
______
Seminar combining lectures and lab run by students and academic staff at the Edgerton Center. Students explore specialized electronics, robotics, or mechanical design and fabrication topics not offered in the regular curriculum; classes range from beginner level to more advanced. Some offerings may be taught in an intensive fashion (meeting for up to several times a week for four weeks). Up to three sequential seminars may be offered per semester, covering a different topic each time. Students can take one or all of the seminars.
Jack Whipple

EC.S03 Special Subject at the Edgerton Center
______

Undergrad (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Seminar combining lectures and lab run by students and academic staff at the Edgerton Center. Students explore specialized electronics, robotics, or mechanical design and fabrication topics not offered in the regular curriculum; classes range from beginner level to more advanced. Some offerings may be taught in an intensive fashion (meeting for up to several times a week for four weeks). Up to three sequential seminars may be offered per semester, covering a different topic each time. Students can take one or all of the seminars.
L. Zamir, W. Vu
No required or recommended textbooks

EC.S04 Special Subject at the Edgerton Center
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
URL: IAP URL: https://calendar.mit.edu/event/ecs04_how_to_build_and_engine_-_section_a#.Y4TWypPML0o
______
Seminar combining lectures and lab run by students and academic staff at the Edgerton Center. Students explore specialized electronics, robotics, or mechanical design and fabrication topics not offered in the regular curriculum; classes range from beginner level to more advanced. Some offerings may be taught in an intensive fashion (meeting for up to several times a week for four weeks). Up to three sequential seminars may be offered per semester, covering a different topic each time. Students can take one or all of the seminars.
Fall: Staff
IAP: C. Yong, M. Belanger

EC.S05 Special Subject at the Edgerton Center
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Seminar combining lectures and lab run by students and academic staff at the Edgerton Center. Students explore specialized electronics, robotics, or mechanical design and fabrication topics not offered in the regular curriculum; classes range from beginner level to more advanced. Some offerings may be taught in an intensive fashion (meeting for up to several times a week for four weeks). Up to three sequential seminars may be offered per semester, covering a different topic each time. Students can take one or all of the seminars.
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff

EC.S06 Special Subject at the Edgerton Center
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
Lecture: W9 (N51-310) Design: W10-12 (N51-310)
______
Seminar combining lectures and lab run by students and academic staff at the Edgerton Center. Students explore specialized electronics, robotics, or mechanical design and fabrication topics not offered in the regular curriculum; classes range from beginner level to more advanced. Some offerings may be taught in an intensive fashion (meeting for up to several times a week for four weeks). Up to three sequential seminars may be offered per semester, covering a different topic each time. Students can take one or all of the seminars.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: S. Murcott
No textbook information available

EC.S07 Special Subject at the Edgerton Center
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Seminar combining lectures and lab run by students and academic staff at the Edgerton Center. Students explore specialized electronics, robotics, or mechanical design and fabrication topics not offered in the regular curriculum; classes range from beginner level to more advanced. Some offerings may be taught in an intensive fashion (meeting for up to several times a week for four weeks). Up to three sequential seminars may be offered per semester, covering a different topic each time. Students can take one or all of the seminars.
Staff

EC.S08 Special Subject at the Edgerton Center
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Seminar combining lectures and lab run by students and academic staff at the Edgerton Center. Students explore specialized electronics, robotics, or mechanical design and fabrication topics not offered in the regular curriculum; classes range from beginner level to more advanced. Some offerings may be taught in an intensive fashion (meeting for up to several times a week for four weeks). Up to three sequential seminars may be offered per semester, covering a different topic each time. Students can take one or all of the seminars.
Staff

EC.S09 Special Subject at the Edgerton Center
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Seminar combining lectures and lab run by students and academic staff at the Edgerton Center. Students explore specialized electronics, robotics, or mechanical design and fabrication topics not offered in the regular curriculum; classes range from beginner level to more advanced. Some offerings may be taught in an intensive fashion (meeting for up to several times a week for four weeks). Up to three sequential seminars may be offered per semester, covering a different topic each time. Students can take one or all of the seminars.
Staff

EC.S10 Special Subject at the Edgerton Center
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Seminar combining lectures and lab run by students and academic staff at the Edgerton Center. Students explore specialized electronics, robotics, or mechanical design and fabrication topics not offered in the regular curriculum; classes range from beginner level to more advanced. Some offerings may be taught in an intensive fashion (meeting for up to several times a week for four weeks). Up to three sequential seminars may be offered per semester, covering a different topic each time. Students can take one or all of the seminars.
Staff

EC.S11 Special Subject at the Edgerton Center
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
Lecture: W9 (N51-310) Design: W10-12 (N51-310)
______
Seminar combining lectures and lab run by students and academic staff at the Edgerton Center. Students explore specialized electronics, robotics, or mechanical design and fabrication topics not offered in the regular curriculum; classes range from beginner level to more advanced. Some offerings may be taught in an intensive fashion (meeting for up to several times a week for four weeks). Up to three sequential seminars may be offered per semester, covering a different topic each time. Students can take one or all of the seminars.
S.Murcott
No textbook information available

EC.S12 Special Subject at the Edgerton Center
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Seminar combining lectures and lab run by students and academic staff at the Edgerton Center. Students explore specialized electronics, robotics, or mechanical design and fabrication topics not offered in the regular curriculum; classes range from beginner level to more advanced. Some offerings may be taught in an intensive fashion (meeting for up to several times a week for four weeks). Up to three sequential seminars may be offered per semester, covering a different topic each time. Students can take one or all of the seminars.
IAP: Susan Murcott
Spring: Christine Ortiz, Ellan Spero

EC.S13 Special Subject at the Edgerton Center
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Seminar combining lectures and lab run by students and academic staff at the Edgerton Center. Students explore specialized electronics, robotics, or mechanical design and fabrication topics not offered in the regular curriculum; classes range from beginner level to more advanced. Some offerings may be taught in an intensive fashion (meeting for up to several times a week for four weeks). Up to three sequential seminars may be offered per semester, covering a different topic each time. Students can take one or all of the seminars.
C. Ortiz, E. Spero


left arrow | EC.00-EC.UR | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Engineering Management
IAP/Spring 2025

    IAP only    Evaluations (Certificates Required)
left arrow | EM.00-EM.THG | right arrow

System Design and Management

SDM Home

EM.411 Foundations of System Design and Management
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-2-9
______
Presents the foundations of systems architecture, systems engineering and project management in an integrated format, through a synchronized combination of in-class discussion, industrial guest speakers, team projects, and individual assignments. Topics include stakeholder analysis, project planning and monitoring, requirements definition, concept generation and selection, complexity management, system integration, verification and validation, cost modeling, systems safety, organizational design and effective teamwork, risk management, and leadership styles. Restricted to students in the SDM program.
B. Moser

EM.412 Foundations of System Design and Management II
______

Graduate (IAP)
Prereq: EM.411
Units: 2-1-3
______
Deepens the foundations of systems architecture, systems engineering and project management introduced in EM.411 though a synchronized combination of lectures, recitations, opportunity sets, guest speakers, and team projects. Topics emphasize the transition from early conceptual design to detailed design and system integration. Features a technology showcase and project forum where students, faculty and company sponsors meet to discuss and select projects for EM.413. Includes team-based exercises and design challenges. Restricted to students in the SDM program.
B. Moser
No textbook information available

EM.413 Foundations of System Design and Management III
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: EM.412
Units: 4-2-9
Lecture: MW11-1 (1-390) Recitation: TR12 (1-390) or TR1 (1-390)
______
Presents advanced concepts in systems architecture, systems engineering and project management in an integrated manner through lectures, recitations, opportunity sets, guest lectures, and a semester-long team project. Topics emphasize complexity management, systems integration, verification, validation, and lifecycle management. Specific lifecycle properties addressed include quality, safety, robustness, resilience, flexibility and evolvability of systems over time. Additional topics include monitoring and control, the rework cycle, managing portfolios and programs of projects in a multi-cultural and global context, and managing product families and platforms. Restricted to students in the SDM program.
B. Moser, B. Cameron, E. Crawley
No textbook information available

EM.421 SDM Certificate Capstone
______

Graduate (Summer)
Prereq: EM.413
Units: 1-0-8 [P/D/F]
______
Practical application of systems management problems within a real company. Teams of 1-4 students are matched with a company to work on a project in which they identify systems challenges and devise methods for solving problems utilizing the system architecture, systems engineering and project management methodology covered in the EM core sequence. Mentors and sponsors are identified for each team. Restricted to System Design and Management Certificate students.
I. Vazquez

EM.422 System Design and Management for a Changing World: Combined
______

Graduate (Fall)
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.146, 16.861, EM.422, IDS.332)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for EM.423, IDS.333
______
Practical-oriented subject that builds upon theory and methods and culminates in extended application. Covers methods to identify, value, and implement flexibility in design (real options). Topics include definition of uncertainties, simulation of performance for scenarios, screening models to identify desirable flexibility, decision analysis, and multidimensional economic evaluation. Students demonstrate proficiency through an extended application to a system design of their choice. Complements research or thesis projects. Class is "flipped" to maximize student engagement and learning. Meets with IDS.333 in the first half of term. Enrollment limited.
R. de Neufville

EM.423[J] System Design and Management for a Changing World: Tools
______

Graduate (Fall); first half of term
(Same subject as IDS.333[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
Credit cannot also be received for 1.146, 16.861, EM.422, IDS.332
______
Focuses on design choices and decisions under uncertainty. Topics include identification and description of uncertainties using probability distributions; the calculation of commensurate measures of value, such as expected net present values; Monte Carlo simulation and risk analysis; and the use of decision analysis to explore alternative strategies and identify optimal initial choices. Presents applied analysis of practical examples from a variety of engineering systems using spreadsheet and decision analysis software. Class is "flipped" to maximize student engagement and learning. Meets with IDS.332 first half of term.
R. de Neufville

EM.424[J] System Design and Management for a Changing World: Projects
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Same subject as IDS.334[J])
Prereq: IDS.333 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR10.30-12 (1-390)
______
Focuses on implementation of flexibility (real options) in the design of products, start-ups, ongoing management of operations, or policy plans. Applies the methods presented in IDS.333: recognition of uncertainty, identification of best opportunities for flexibility, and valuation of these options and their effective implementation. Students work on their own project concept, for which they develop a dynamic business plan for design, deployment, and most beneficial implementation of their system over time. Useful complement to thesis or research projects. Class is "flipped" to maximize student engagement and learning. Subject meets in second half of term in the fall and first half of term in the spring.
Fall: R. de Neufville
Spring: R. de Neufville
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

EM.425 Research Seminar on Engineering Projects and Teamwork
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: EM.411 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Review of research on engineering as work and problem-solving by teams, including cases, professional practices, experimental results, and teamwork fundamentals. Topics include: projects structures and dependence; communication, coordination, and concurrency; exception handling, rework, and quality; awareness, attention, and engagement; and information, uncertainty, and learning. Students consider engineering teamwork phenomena which integrate technical and organizational aspects, leading to insights on performance during project shaping, ideation, planning, control, adaptation, and lessons learned. In the second half, students work as small teams to propose an experiment which explores teamwork during engineering. Proposed experiments often become basis for research and thesis activity.
B. Moser, I. Vazquez

EM.426 Model-building and Analysis Lab for Engineering Project Teamwork
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: EM.425 or permission of instructor
Units: 1-1-4
Lecture: M4 (E51-372)
______
Explores agent-based models and simulation for engineering project management. Students build and validate models of engineered systems and engineering teamwork, which integrate technology and organization useful during project shaping, ideation, planning, control, adaptation, and lessons learned. Models capture phenomena discussed in EM.425 and are simulated to forecast performance such as feasible scope, human activity, interactions, cost, schedule, quality, and risks. In the first half, students build a model and agent-based simulation from scratch. In the second half, students work in small teams on either a case modeled using methods introduced in the first half or an extension of said methods to explore a particular engineering phenomenon introduced in the first half.
B. Moser
No textbook information available

EM.427[J] Technology Roadmapping and Development
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 16.887[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a review of the principles, methods and tools of technology management for organizations and technologically-enabled systems including technology forecasting, scouting, roadmapping, strategic planning, R&D project execution, intellectual property management, knowledge management, partnering and acquisition, technology transfer, innovation management, and financial technology valuation. Topics explain the underlying theory and empirical evidence for technology evolution over time and contain a rich set of examples and practical exercises from aerospace and other domains, such as transportation, energy, communications, agriculture, and medicine. Special topics include Moore's law, S-curves, the singularity and fundamental limits to technology. Students develop a comprehensive technology roadmap on a topic of their own choice.
O. L. de Weck

EM.428[J] Multidisciplinary Design Optimization
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 16.888[J], IDS.338[J])
Prereq: 18.085 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
______
Systems modeling for design and optimization. Selection of design variables, objective functions and constraints. Overview of principles, methods and tools in multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO). Subsystem identification, development and interface design. Design of experiments (DOE). Review of linear (LP) and non-linear (NLP) constrained optimization formulations. Scalar versus vector optimization problems. Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions of optimality, Lagrange multipliers, adjoints, gradient search methods, sensitivity analysis, geometric programming, simulated annealing, genetic algorithms and particle swarm optimization. Constraint satisfaction problems and isoperformance. Non-dominance and Pareto frontiers. Surrogate models and multifidelity optimization strategies. System design for value. Students execute a term project in small teams related to their area of interest. 
O. de Weck

EM.429[J] Systems Architecting Applied to Enterprises
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 16.855[J], IDS.336[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T EVE (4-7 PM) (1-390)
______
Focuses on understanding, designing and transforming sociotechnical enterprises using systems principles and practices. Includes discussions and reading on enterprise theory, systems architecting, transformation challenges and case studies of evolving enterprises. Covers frameworks and methods for ecosystem analysis, stakeholder analysis, design thinking, systems architecture and evaluation, and human-centered enterprise design strategies. Students engage in interactive breakout sessions during class and participate in a selected small team project to design a future architecture for a real-world enterprise. Selected projects are based on student interests in enterprises such as small, medium, or large companies, government agencies, academic units, start-ups, and nonprofit organizations.
D. Rhodes
No required or recommended textbooks

Integrated Design and Management

IDM Home

EM.441 Integrated Design Lab I
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-5-7
______
Presents fundamentals of the integrated design and product development process. Covers methods relevant at each stage of the process; students apply them in a series of design projects. Topics include stakeholder identification, customer engagement and ethnographic methods, concept generation and selection, project planning, manufacturing methods, supply systems, cost modeling, sustainability, and safety. Restricted to Integrated Design and Management (IDM) students.
Staff

EM.442 Integrated Design Lab II
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: EM.441 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-5-7
______
Presents advanced topics in integrated design and product development. Students pursue a product development project as a case study for understanding how teams work together to define and test a new product. Provides exposure to the state-of-the-art in product definition, product architectures, market testing, competitive analysis, product planning strategy, business case construction, and life cycle design. Students apply their previously acquired product development knowledge and engage in ongoing reflection in an action-oriented setting. Restricted to Integrated Design and Management (IDM) students.
Staff

EM.443 Integrated Design Seminar I
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-1
______
Covers a broad range of topics relevant to integrated design, engineering, and business, including leadership, entrepreneurship, social impact, sustainability, and human centered design. Includes discussion of Integrated Design & Management thesis projects. Features lectures by guest speakers and faculty. Restricted to Integrated Design and Management (IDM) students.
Staff

EM.444 Integrated Design Seminar II
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-1
______
Covers a broad range of topics relevant to integrated design, engineering, and business, including leadership, entrepreneurship, social impact, sustainability, and human centered design. Includes discussion of Integrated Design & Management thesis projects. Features lectures by guest speakers and faculty. Restricted to Integrated Design and Management (IDM) students.
Staff

Internship and Thesis

EM.451 Internship Experience
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Provides insight into the challenges of an organization that develops products or systems. Before enrolling each student must have a department approved internship opportunity. At the end of the internship, students deliver a report, for evaluation by the sponsoring faculty member, documenting ways that the organization addresses product or system development issues and applies the methods taught in the SDM or IDM core. Intended for students who have completed the SDM or IDM core course sequence.
Fall: J. Rubin
IAP: J. Rubin
Spring: J. Rubin
No textbook information available

EM.S20 Special Subject in Engineering Management
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: W4-5.30 (1-390)
______
Opportunity for study of advanced topics in Engineering Management not otherwise included in the curriculum at MIT. Offerings are initiated by faculty on an ad-hoc basis subject to department approval.
E. Rebentisch
No textbook information available

EM.S21 Special Subject in Engineering Management
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for study of advanced topics in Engineering Management not otherwise included in the curriculum at MIT. Offerings are initiated by faculty on an ad-hoc basis subject to department approval.
Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

EM.S22 Special Subject in Engineering Management
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for study of advanced topics in Engineering Management not otherwise included in the curriculum at MIT. Offerings are initiated by faculty on an ad-hoc basis subject to department approval.
Staff
No textbook information available

EM.THG EM Graduate Thesis
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research, leading to the writing of an SM thesis to be arranged by the student with an appropriate member of the MIT faculty.
Fall: W. Foley
IAP: W. Foley
Spring: W. Foley
No required or recommended textbooks


left arrow | EM.00-EM.THG | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Experimental Study Group
IAP/Spring 2025


ESG Science Subjects


Biology

ES.7012 Introductory Biology
______

Undergrad (Spring) Biology
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 7.012, 7.013, 7.014, 7.015, 7.016, ES.7013
TBA.
______
Equivalent to 7.012; see 7.012 for description. Instruction provided through small, interactive classes. Limited to students in ESG.
P. Christie
No textbook information available

ES.7013 Introductory Biology
______

Undergrad (Spring) Biology
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 7.012, 7.013, 7.014, 7.015, 7.016, ES.7012
Lecture: MTWRF9 (24-619) or MTWRF10 (24-619) or MTWRF2 (24-619)
______
Equivalent to 7.013; see 7.013 for description. Instruction provided through small, interactive classes. Limited to students in ESG.
P. Christie
Textbooks (Spring 2025)


Chemistry

ES.5111 Principles of Chemical Science
______

Undergrad (Fall) Chemistry
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 3.091, 5.111, 5.112, CC.5111, ES.5112
______
Equivalent to 5.111; see 5.111 for description. Instruction provided through small, interactive classes taught by ESG staff. Limited to students in ESG.
P. Christie

ES.5112 Principles of Chemical Science
______

Undergrad (Fall) Chemistry
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 3.091, 5.111, 5.112, CC.5111, ES.5111
______
Equivalent to 5.112; see 5.112 for description. Instruction provided through small, interactive classes taught by ESG staff. Limited to students in ESG.
Staff


Mathematics

ES.1801 Calculus
______

Undergrad (Fall) Calculus I
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.01, 18.01A, CC.1801, ES.181A
______
Equivalent to 18.01; see 18.01 for description. Instruction provided through small, interactive classes. Limited to students in ESG.
A. Parzygnat

ES.1802 Calculus
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Calculus II
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.02, 18.022, 18.02A, CC.1802, ES.182A
Lecture: MTWR11 (24-619) Recitation: F11 (24-619)
______
Equivalent to 18.02; see 18.02 for description. Instruction provided through small, interactive classes. Limited to students in ESG.
Fall: A. Parzygnat
Spring: G. Stoy
No textbook information available

ES.1803 Differential Equations
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: None. Coreq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.03, CC.1803
Lecture: MTRF10 (24-618) or MTRF11 (24-618) Recitation: W10 (24-618) or W11 (24-618)
______
Equivalent to 18.03; see 18.03 for description. Instruction provided through small, interactive classes. Limited to students in ESG.
Fall: J. Bloom
Spring: J. Orloff, G.Stoy
No textbook information available

ES.1806 Linear Algebra
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 6.C06, 18.06, 18.700, 18.C06
Lecture: MTWR12 (24-621) or MTWR2 (24-621) Recitation: F10 (24-611A) or F11 (24-307) or F12 (24-618) or F2 (24-618) or R4 (24-621) or F3 (24-618)
______
Basic subject on matrix theory and linear algebra, emphasizing topics useful in other disciplines, including systems of equations, vector spaces, determinants, eigenvalues, singular value decomposition, and positive definite matrices. Applications to least-squares approximations, stability of differential equations, networks, Fourier transforms, and Markov processes. Uses linear algebra software. Compared with 18.700, more emphasis on matrix algorithms and applications. Enrollment limited to Experimental Study Group (ESG) students only.
A. Parzygnat
No textbook information available

ES.181A Calculus
______

Undergrad (Fall) Calculus I; first half of term
Prereq: Knowledge of differentiation and elementary integration
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.01, 18.01A, CC.1801, ES.1801
______
Equivalent to 18.01A; see 18.01A for description. Instruction provided through small, interactive classes. Limited to students in ESG.
J. Bloom

ES.182A Calculus
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP) Calculus II
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 18.02, 18.022, 18.02A, CC.1802, ES.1802
______
Equivalent to 18.02A; see 18.02A for description. Instruction provided through small, interactive classes. Limited to students in ESG.
Fall: J. Bloom
IAP: J. Bloom
No textbook information available


Physics

ES.801 Physics I
______

Undergrad (Fall) Physics I
Prereq: None
Units: 5-1-6
Credit cannot also be received for 8.01, 8.011, 8.012, 8.01L, ES.8012
______
Equivalent to 8.01; see 8.01 for description. Instruction provided through small, interactive classes. Limited to students in ESG.
A. Barrantes De Karma

ES.8012 Physics I
______

Undergrad (Fall) Physics I
Prereq: None
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 8.01, 8.011, 8.012, 8.01L, ES.801
______
Equivalent to 8.012; see 8.012 for description. Limited to students in ESG.
P. Rebusco

ES.802 Physics II
______

Undergrad (Spring) Physics II
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR) and Physics I (GIR)
Units: 5-1-6
Credit cannot also be received for 8.02, 8.021, 8.022, ES.8022
Lecture: MTWRF10 (24-621) or MTWRF11 (24-621)
______
Equivalent to 8.02; see 8.02 for description. Instruction done through small, interactive classes. Limited to students in ESG.
A. Barrantes
No textbook information available

ES.8022 Physics II
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Physics II
Prereq: Physics I (GIR); Coreq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 5-0-7
Credit cannot also be received for 8.02, 8.021, 8.022, ES.802
Lecture: MW11-1,F11 (24-611A)
______
Equivalent to 8.022; see 8.022 for description. Students complete group projects. Some content is decided by students. Limited to students in ESG.
Fall: P. Rebusco
Spring: P. Rebusco
No textbook information available

ESG Writing Program

ES.729[J] Engineering Communication in Context
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Elective Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21W.729[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-1-8
______
Introduces writing, graphics, meetings, reading, oral presentation, collaboration, and design as tools for product development. Students work in teams to conceive, design, prototype, and evaluate energy-related mechanical engineering products. Instruction focuses on communication tasks that are integral to the design process, including design notebooks, email, informal and formal presentations, meeting etiquette, literature searches, white papers, proposals, and reports. Other assignments address the cultural situation of engineers and engineering in the world at large. Limited to 18; preference to ESG students.
Staff

ESG HASS Subjects

ES.112 Philosophy of Love
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for ES.9112
______
Explores the nature of love through works of philosophy, literature, film, poetry, and individual experience. Investigates the distinction among eros (desiring or appreciative love), philia (mutuality), and agape (love as pure giving). Students discuss ideas of love as a feeling, an action, a species of 'knowing someone,' or a way to give or take. Authors include Plato, Kant, Buber, D. H. Lawrence, Rumi, and Aristotle. Preference to students in ESG and Concourse.
Staff

ES.113 Ancient Greek Philosophy and Mathematics
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the relationship between ancient Greek philosophy and mathematics. Investigates how ideas of definition, reason, argument and proof, rationality/irrationality, number, quality and quantity, truth, and even the idea of an idea were shaped by the interplay of philosophic and mathematical inquiry. Examines how discovery of the incommensurability of magnitudes challenged the Greek presumption that the cosmos is fully understandable. Explores the influence of mathematics on ancient Greek ethical theories. Authors: Euclid, Plato, Aristotle, Nicomachus, Theon of Smyrna, Bacon, Descartes, Dedekind, and Newton. Preference to students in Concourse and ESG.
Staff

ES.114 Non-violence as a Way of Life
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for ES.9114
______
Addresses the philosophical question of what a non-violent life entails. Investigates its ethical dimensions and challenges, and considers whether we can derive a comprehensive moral theory from the principle of non-violence. Discusses the issues of lying, the duty to forgive, non-violent communication, the ethics of our relationship to anger, the possibility of loving enemies, and the ethics of punishment and rehabilitation.  Includes readings from primary exponents of non-violence, such as Tolstoy, Gandhi and King.
L. Perlman

ES.9112 Philosophy of Love - MIT Prison Initiative
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for ES.112
Lecture: R1-3 (VIRTUAL)
______
Explores the nature of love through works of philosophy, literature, film, poetry, and individual experience. Investigates the distinction among eros (desiring or appreciative love), philia (mutuality), and agape (love as pure giving). Students discuss ideas of love as a feeling, an action, a species of 'knowing someone,' or a way to give or take. Authors include Plato, Kant, Buber, D. H. Lawrence, Rumi, and Aristotle. Taught inside a secure Massachusetts correctional facility with a mix of MIT students and incarcerated students. Limited to 10.
L. Perlman
No textbook information available

ES.9114 Non-violence as a Way of Life - MIT Prison Initiative
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for ES.114
______
Addresses the philosophical question of what a non-violent life entails. Investigates its ethical dimensions and challenges, and considers whether we can derive a comprehensive moral theory from the principle of non-violence. Discusses the issues of lying, the duty to forgive, non-violent communication, the ethics of our relationship to anger, the possibility of loving enemies, and the ethics of punishment and rehabilitation. Includes readings from primary exponents of non-violence, such as Tolstoy, Gandhi and King. Taught inside a secure Massachusetts correctional facility with a mix of MIT students and incarcerated students. Limited to 10.
L. Perlman

ES.92 Authenticity - MIT Prison Initiative
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3 [P/D/F]
Lecture: TBA
______
Explores the question of how to live an authentic life, through works of western and eastern philosophy and contemporary psychology. Topics include emotions, anger, honesty, forgiveness, non-violent communication, conflict resolution, kindness and cruelty and compassion. Taught inside a secure Massachusetts correctional facility with a mix of MIT students and incarcerated students. Limited to 12.
Fall: L. Perlman
Spring: L. Perlman
No textbook information available

ESG Seminars

ES.010 Chemistry of Sports: Understanding How Exercise Affects Your Body
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-1-3 [P/D/F]
Lecture: T3-5 (24-619)
______
Students apply chemistry knowledge to physical fitness through the study of three sports: swimming, cycling, and running. Classroom component focuses on nutrition, exercise, anatomy, physiology, and the chemistry of supplements and sports equipment. Laboratory component focuses on training for and completion of triathlon competition. Students may earn up to 2 PE points during the term by attending supervised triathlon training workouts. Preference to students in ESG.
P. Christie, S. Lyons
No required or recommended textbooks

ES.011 Kitchen Chemistry
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-1-3 [P/D/F]
______
An experimental and "hands-on" approach to applied chemistry in cooking. Students perform experiments to illustrate chemical principles, such as extraction, denaturation, and phase changes. Preference to students in ESG.
Staff

ES.100 An Introduction to Maker Skills
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-1-1 [P/D/F]
Lecture: F4 (24-611A)
______
Introduction to making and use of MIT's maker spaces intended to build skills needed for designing, conducting, and completing experiments and design projects, such as may be encountered in undergraduate classwork and research activities. Includes maker space training (i.e., wood shop, digital fabrication, and electronics fabrication) and open-ended design projects, with work evenly divided between class, homework, and maker space activities. Limited to 12 by makerspace training and scheduling; priority given to ESG students.
D. Custer
No textbook information available

ESG Teaching and Research

ES.200 ESG Undergraduate Teaching
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
An opportunity to assist in the teaching of subjects in ESG in biology, chemistry, humanities and social sciences, mathematics, and physics. Student instructors may be involved in grading, running problemsolving sessions, or teaching classes depending on experience and interest. Qualified students may also develop and teach undergraduate seminars under the supervision of an appropriate faculty or staff member. Student instructors meet weekly with staff to discuss their teaching and cover a variety of topics related to effective teaching techniques. Limited to students in ESG.
P. Christie

ES.201 ESG Undergraduate Teaching
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
An opportunity to assist in the teaching of subjects in ESG in biology, chemistry, humanities and social sciences, mathematics, and physics. Student instructors may be involved in grading, running problem solving sessions, or teaching classes depending on experience and interest. Qualified students may also develop and teach undergraduate seminars under the supervision of an appropriate faculty or staff member. Student instructors meet every other week  with staff to discuss their teaching and cover a variety of topics related to effective teaching techniques. Limited to students in ESG.
G. Stoy
No required or recommended textbooks

ES.210 ESG Independent Study
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a staff member. Projects require prior approval, as well as a written proposal and a final report. Limited to students in ESG.
Fall: Paola Rebusco
IAP: G. Ramsay
Spring: Graham Ramsay
Summer: Graham Ramsay
No textbook information available

ES.UR Undergraduate Research in ESG
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For students wishing to pursue undergraduate research opportunities in the Experimental Study Group. Limited to students in ESG.
Fall: G. Ramsay
IAP: G. Ramsay
Spring: G. Ramsay
Textbooks arranged individually

ESG Special Subjects

ES.S10 Special Seminar in Science
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
Staff

ES.S11 Special Seminar in Science
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
Staff

ES.S20 Special Seminar in Mathematics
______

Undergrad (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
Gabrielle Stoy
No textbook information available

ES.S21 Special Seminar in Mathematics
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
Staff

ES.S30 Special Seminar in Engineering and Computer Science
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
URL: https://esg.mit.edu/learninginnovation/undergraduate-seminars/
Lecture: W3-5 (24-621)
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
C. Cardozo
No textbook information available

ES.S31 Special Seminar in Engineering and Computer Science
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
Fall: Titus Roesler
IAP: Titus Roesler
No textbook information available

ES.S40 Special Seminar in the Humanities
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
Lecture: W1-3 (VIRTUAL)
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
L. Perlman
No textbook information available

ES.S41 Special Seminar in the Humanities
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff

ES.S42 Special Seminar in the Humanities
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
Staff

ES.S50 Special Seminar in the Arts
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
Staff

ES.S51 Special Seminar in the Arts
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
Staff

ES.S60 Special Seminar in Social Science
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
Staff

ES.S601 Special Topics in Computer Science
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. Limited to 10. Preference given to ESG students.
Staff

ES.S602 Special Topics in Computer Science
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. Preference given to ESG students.
Staff

ES.S61 Special Seminar in Social Science
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
Staff

ES.S70 Special Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
Lecture: F2-4 (24-621)
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
Fall: W. Roush
Spring: C. Jernigan
No textbook information available

ES.S71 Special Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Covers topics not included in the permanent curriculum. May not be used for GIR credit, but may be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Preference to students in ESG.
C. Kaufmann
No textbook information available

ES.S90 Special Studies in the MIT Initiative for Teaching Incarcerated Individuals
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Seminar taught inside a secure Massachusetts correctional facility with a mix of MIT students and incarcerated students. Topics vary from year to year. Limited to 10.
D. Keith-Lucas
No textbook information available

ES.S91 Special Studies in the MIT Initiative for Teaching Incarcerated Individuals
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
Lecture: W EVE (7-9 PM) (SOUTH BAY HOC)
______
Seminar taught inside a secure Massachusetts correctional facility with a mix of MIT students and incarcerated students. Topics vary from year to year. Limited to 10.
J. Abbott
No textbook information available

ES.S92 Special Studies in the MIT Initiative for Teaching Incarcerated Individuals
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Seminar taught inside a secure Massachusetts correctional facility with a mix of MIT students and incarcerated students. Topics vary from year to year. Limited to 10.
Staff
No textbook information available

ES.S93 Special Studies in the MIT Initiative for Teaching Incarcerated Individuals
(New)
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Seminar taught inside a secure Massachusetts correctional facility with a mix of MIT students and incarcerated students. Topics vary from year to year. Limited to 10.
Fall: L. Perlman
Spring: L. Perlman
No textbook information available


left arrow | ES.00-ES.UR | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Health Sciences and Technology
IAP/Spring 2025


IMPORTANT NOTES regarding preclinical subjects (HST.011-HST.200)*:

Students not enrolled in an HST program are limited to two HST preclinical courses and must provide justification for enrolling in these courses. This action must be approved by the course director and the student's advisor. These subjects are scheduled according to the Harvard Medical School academic calendar, which differs from the MIT calendar. Students whose graduation depends upon completing one or more of these subjects should take particular care regarding the schedule.

* HST.163 and HST.198 are NOT included in the two-course limit.

HST.010 Human Functional Anatomy
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with HST.011)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-11-10 [P/D/F]
______
Lectures, detailed laboratory dissections, and prosections provide a thorough exploration of the gross structure and function of the human body. Fundamental principles of bioengineering are employed to promote analytical approaches to understanding the body's design. The embryology of major organ systems is presented, together with certain references to phylogenetic development, as a basis for comprehending anatomical complexity. Correlation clinics stress both normal and abnormal functions of the body and present evolving knowledge of genes responsible for normal and abnormal anatomy. Lecturers focus on current problems in organ system research. Only HST students may register under HST.010, graded P/D/F. Lab fee.
T. Van Houten, R. Mitchell, M. Lutchman

HST.011 Human Functional Anatomy
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with HST.010)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-11-10
______
Lectures, detailed laboratory dissections, and prosections provide a thorough exploration of the gross structure and function of the human body. Fundamental principles of bioengineering are employed to promote analytical approaches to understanding the body's design. The embryology of major organ systems is presented, together with certain references to phylogenetic development, as a basis for comprehending anatomical complexity. Correlation clinics stress both normal and abnormal functions of the body and present evolving knowledge of genes responsible for normal and abnormal anatomy. Lecturers focus on current problems in organ system research. Only HST students may register under HST.010, graded P/D/F. Lab fee. Enrollment restricted to graduate students.
T. Van Houten, R. Mitchell

HST.015 MATLAB for Medicine
______

Graduate (Summer)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
Practical introduction to use of quantitative methods in medicine and health research. Each session covers a different topic in quantitative techniques, provides an application to medicine, and includes a modeling activity using MATLAB. Students also complete problem sets. Restricted to first year HST MD students.
HST Faculty

HST.016 Artificial Intelligence in Health Care I
(New)
______

Graduate (Summer)
(Subject meets with HST.017)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
Introduces fundamental concepts at the core of artificial intelligence (AI), as applied to health care problems. Didactic lectures, problem sets, and review/analyses of seminal papers in the field. Specific topics include: deep learning for clinical risk stratification, explaining complex machine learning models, bias and fairness in clinical machine learning, large language models, and Generative Pretrained Transformers (GPT models). No background in AI or machine learning is required. Only HST students may register under HST.016, which is graded P/D/F. Enrollment limited.
Staff

HST.017 Artificial Intelligence in Health Care I
(New)
______

Graduate (Summer)
(Subject meets with HST.016)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Introduces fundamental concepts at the core of artificial intelligence (AI), as applied to health care problems. Didactic lectures, problem sets, and review/analyses of seminal papers in the field. Specific topics include: deep learning for clinical risk stratification, explaining complex machine learning models, bias and fairness in clinical machine learning, large language models, and Generative Pretrained Transformers (GPT models). No background in AI or machine learning is required. Only HST students may register under HST.016, which is graded P/D/F. Enrollment limited.
Staff

HST.018 Artificial Intelligence in Health Care II
(New)
______

Graduate (IAP)
(Subject meets with HST.019)
Prereq: (HST.016 or HST.017) and permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
Builds upon on the core concepts covered in HST.017. Student selected projects explore specific clinical problems. Student groups are paired with machine learning experts who provide guidance. Only HST students may register under HST.018, which is graded P/D/F.
C. Stultz
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.019 Artificial Intelligence in Health Care II
(New)
______

Graduate (IAP)
(Subject meets with HST.018)
Prereq: (HST.016 or HST.017) and permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Builds upon on the core concepts covered in HST.017. Student selected projects explore specific clinical problems. Student groups are paired with machine learning experts who provide guidance. Only HST students may register under HST.018, which is graded P/D/F.
Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.020 Musculoskeletal Pathophysiology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with HST.021)
Prereq: HST.030 and HST.160
Units: 3-0-3 [P/D/F]
HST.020: Begins 2/3. Final exam at hms. Lecture: M1.30-4 (MEC-209)
______
Growth and development of normal bone and joints, the biophysics and biomechanics of bone and response to stress and fracture, calcium and phosphate homeostasis and regulation by parathyroid hormone and vitamin D, and the pathogenesis of metabolic bone diseases and disease of connective tissue, joints, and muscles, with consideration of possible mechanisms and underlying metabolic derangements. Only HST students may register under HST.020, graded P/D/F. Enrollment limited; restricted to medical and graduate students.
Staff
HST.020: No required or recommended textbooks

HST.021 Musculoskeletal Pathophysiology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with HST.020)
Prereq: HST.030 and HST.160
Units: 3-0-3
HST.021: Begins 2/3. Final exam at hms. Lecture: M1.30-4 (MEC-209)
______
Growth and development of normal bone and joints, the biophysics of bone and response to stress and fracture, calcium and phosphate homeostasis and regulation by parathyroid hormone and vitamin D, and the pathogenesis of metabolic bone diseases and disease of connective tissue, joints, and muscles, with consideration of possible mechanisms and underlying metabolic derangements. Only HST students may register under HST.020, graded P/D/F. Enrollment limited; restricted to medical and graduate students.
M. Bouxsein, L. Tarter
HST.021: No required or recommended textbooks

HST.030 Human Pathology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with HST.031)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-3-8 [P/D/F]
______
Introduction to the functional structure of normal cells and tissues; pathologic principles of cellular adaptation and injury, inflammation, circulatory disorders, immunologic injury, infection, genetic disorders, and neoplasia in humans. Lectures, conferences emphasizing clinical correlations and contemporary experimental biology, laboratories with examination of microscopic and gross specimens, and autopsy case studies emphasizing modern pathology practice. Only HST students may register under HST.030, graded P/D/F. Lab fee. Limited to 60; priority to HST students.
Staff

HST.031 Human Pathology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with HST.030)
Prereq: Biology (GIR), Physics I (GIR), and permission of instructor
Units: 4-3-8
______
Introduction to the functional structure of normal cells and tissues, pathologic principles of cellular adaptation and injury, inflammation, circulatory disorders, immunologic injury, infection, genetic disorders, and neoplasia in humans. Lectures, conferences emphasizing clinical correlations and contemporary experimental biology. Laboratories with examination of microscopic and gross specimens, and autopsy case studies emphasizing modern pathology practice. Only HST students may register under HST.030, graded P/D/F. Lab fee. Enrollment limited.
R. N. Mitchell, R. Padera

HST.041 Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with HST.040)
Prereq: Biology (GIR), 7.05, and permission of instructor
Units: 4-2-6
______
Deals with the mechanisms of pathogenesis of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. Approach spans mechanisms from molecular to clinical aspects of disease. Topics selected for intrinsic interest and cover the demonstrated spectrum of pathophysiologic mechanisms. Only HST students may register under HST.040, graded P/D/F. Lab fee. Enrollment limited.
S. Kanjilal, K. Hysell

HST.060 Endocrinology
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Biology (GIR), 7.05, and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6 [P/D/F]
HST.060: Begins 2/6. Final exam at hms. Lecture: R2.30-5 (MEC-209)
______
Physiology and pathophysiology of the human endocrine system. Three hours of lecture and section each week concern individual parts of the endocrine system. Topics also include assay techniques, physiological integration, etc. At frequent clinic sessions, patients are presented who demonstrate clinical problems considered in the didactic lectures. Enrollment limited.
W. Kettyle
HST.060: No required or recommended textbooks

HST.061 Endocrinology
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Biology (GIR), 7.05, and permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
HST.061: Begins 2/6. Final exam at hms. Lecture: R2.30-5 (MEC-209)
______
Physiology and pathophysiology of the human endocrine system. Three hours of lecture and section each week concern individual parts of the endocrine system. Topics include assay techniques, physiological integration, etc. At frequent clinic sessions, patients are presented who demonstrate clinical problems considered in the didactic lectures. Only HST students may register under HST.060, graded P/D/F. Enrollment limited.
Kettyle, Y.-M. Chan, A, Abreu
HST.061: No required or recommended textbooks

HST.071 Human Reproductive Biology
______

Graduate (Fall); first half of term
(Subject meets with HST.070)
Prereq: 7.05 and permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-2
______
Lectures and clinical case discussions designed to provide the student with a clear understanding of the physiology, endocrinology, and pathology of human reproduction. Emphasis is on the role of technology in reproductive science. Suggestions for future research contributions in the field are probed. Students become involved in the wider aspects of reproduction, such as prenatal diagnosis, in vitro fertilization, abortion, menopause, contraception and ethics relation to reproductive science. Only HST students may register under HST.070, graded P/D/F.
A. Koniaris, D. Page, T. Lau

HST.081 Hematology
______

Graduate (Spring); partial term
(Subject meets with HST.080)
Prereq: 7.05 and permission of instructor
Units: 2-1-3
HST.080: Begins 2/6. Final exam at hms. Course meets 2/6 - 5/2. Lecture: W8-10,F10-12 (MEC-209)
HST.081: Begins 2/6. Final exam at hms. Course meets 2/6 - 5/2. Lecture: W8-10,F10-12 (MEC-209)
______
Intensive survey of the biology, physiology and pathophysiology of blood with systematic consideration of hematopoiesis, white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, coagulation, plasma proteins, and hematologic malignancies. Emphasis given equally to didactic discussion and analysis of clinical problems. Enrollment limited.
D. Bauer, J. Freed, S. Schulman
HST.080: No required or recommended textbooks
HST.081: No required or recommended textbooks

HST.090 Cardiovascular Pathophysiology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with HST.091)
Prereq: HST.030 or HST.031
Units: 3-2-10 [P/D/F]
HST.090: Begins 2/4. Hms schedule. Meets during spring break. Meets presidents day. 'tuesday 2/18. Lecture: TR10.30-1 (E25-111) Lab: TBA +final
______
Normal and pathologic physiology of the heart and vascular system. Emphasis includes hemodynamics, electrophysiology, gross pathology, and clinical correlates of cardiovascular function in normal and in a variety of disease states. Special attention given to congenital, rheumatic, valvular heart disease and cardiomyopathy. Only HST students may register under HST.090, graded P/D/F.
C. Stultz, T. Heldt, Staff
HST.090: Textbooks (Spring 2025)

HST.091 Cardiovascular Pathophysiology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with HST.090)
Prereq: (HST.030 or HST.031) and permission of instructor
Units: 3-2-10
HST.091: Begins 2/4. Hms schedule. Meets during spring break. Meets presidents day. Tues 2/18. Lecture: TR10.30-1 (E25-111) Lab: TBA +final
______
Normal and pathologic physiology of the heart and vascular system. Emphasis includes hemodynamics, electrophysiology, gross pathology, and clinical correlates of cardiovascular function in normal and in a variety of disease states. Special attention given to congenital, rheumatic, valvular heart disease and cardiomyopathy. Only HST students may register under HST.090, graded P/D/F. Enrollment limited.
C. Stultz, T. Heldt, Staff
HST.091: Textbooks (Spring 2025)

HST.100 Respiratory Pathophysiology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with HST.101)
Prereq: Physics I (GIR) and 7.05
Units: 4-0-8 [P/D/F]
HST.100: Begins 2/4. Final exam at mit. Follows hms schedule. Meets during MIT spring break. Meets presidents day. Tuesday 2/18. Lecture: TR8.30-10.30 (E25-111) +final
______
Lectures, seminars, and laboratories cover the histology, cell biology, and physiological function of the lung with multiple examples related to common diseases of the lung. A quantitative approach to the physics of gases, respiratory mechanics, and gas exchange is provided to explain pathological mechanisms. Use of medical ventilators is discussed in lecture and in laboratory experiences. For MD candidates and other students with background in science. Only HST students may register under HST.100, graded P/D/F.
Staff
HST.100: Textbooks (Spring 2025)

HST.101 Respiratory Pathophysiology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with HST.100)
Prereq: Physics I (GIR), 7.05, and permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
HST.101: Begins 2/5. Final exam at mit. Follows hms schedule. Meets during MIT spring break. Meets presidents day. Tuesday 2/18. Lecture: TR8.30-10.30 (E25-111) +final
______
Lectures, seminars, and laboratories cover the histology, cell biology, and physiological function of the lung with multiple examples related to common diseases of the lung. A quantitative approach to the physics of gases, respiratory mechanics, and gas exchange is provided to explain pathological mechanisms. Use of medical ventilators is discussed in lecture and in laboratory experiences. For MD candidates and other students with background in science. Only HST students may register under HST.100, graded P/D/F. Enrollment limited.
E. Roche, C. Hardin, K. Hibbert
HST.101: Textbooks (Spring 2025)

HST.110 Renal Pathophysiology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with HST.111)
Prereq: 7.05 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8 [P/D/F]
HST.110: Begins 2/5. Final exam at hms. Lecture: W10-12 (MEC-209) or F8-10 (MEC-209)
______
Considers the normal physiology of the kidney and the pathophysiology of renal disease. Renal regulation of sodium, potassium, acid, and water balance are emphasized as are the mechanism and consequences of renal failure. Included also are the pathology and pathophysiology of clinical renal disorders such as acute and chronic glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, and vascular disease. New molecular insights into transporter mutations and renal disease are discussed. Only HST students may register under HST.110, graded P/D/F. Enrollment limited.
Staff
HST.110: Textbooks (Spring 2025)

HST.111 Renal Pathophysiology
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with HST.110)
Prereq: 7.05 and permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
HST.111: Begins 2/5. Final exam at hms. Lecture: W10-12 (MEC-209) or F8-10 (MEC-209)
______
Considers the normal physiology of the kidney and the pathophysiology of renal disease. Renal regulation of sodium, potassium, acid, and water balance are emphasized as are the mechanism and consequences of renal failure. Included also are the pathology and pathophysiology of clinical renal disorders such as acute and chronic glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, and vascular disease. New molecular insights into transporter mutations and renal disease are discussed. Only HST students may register under HST.110, graded P/D/F. Enrollment limited.
G. McMahon, M. Yeung
HST.111: Textbooks (Spring 2025)

HST.121 Gastroenterology
______

Graduate (Fall); second half of term
(Subject meets with HST.120)
Prereq: Biology (GIR), Physics I (GIR), 7.05, and permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-2
______
Presents the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, biophysics, and bioengineering of the gastrointestinal tract and associated pancreatic, liver, and biliary systems. Emphasis on the molecular and pathophysiological basis of disease where known. Covers gross and microscopic pathology and clinical aspects. Formal lectures given by core faculty, with some guest lectures by local experts. Selected seminars conducted by students with supervision of faculty. Only HST students may register under HST.120, graded P/D/F. Enrollment limited.
A. Rutherford, S. Flier

HST.130 Neuroscience
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with HST.131)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 6-3-6 [P/D/F]
______
Comprehensive study of neuroscience where students explore the brain on levels ranging from molecules and cells through neural systems, perception, memory, and behavior. Includes some aspects of clinical neuroscience, within neuropharmacology, pathophysiology, and neurology. Lectures supplemented by conferences and labs. Labs review neuroanatomy at the gross and microscopic levels. Limited to 50 HST students.
Staff

HST.131 Neuroscience
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with HST.130)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 6-3-6
______
Comprehensive study of neuroscience where students explore the brain on levels ranging from molecules and cells through neural systems, perception, memory, and behavior. Includes some aspects of clinical neuroscience, within neuropharmacology, pathophysiology, and neurology. Lectures supplemented by conferences and labs. Labs review neuroanatomy at the gross and microscopic levels. Only HST students may register under HST.130, graded P/D/F. Limited to 50.
J. Assad, M. Frosch

HST.147 Biochemistry and Metabolism
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with HST.146)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-5
______
First-year graduate level intensive subject in human biochemistry and physiological chemistry that focuses on intermediary metabolism, structures of key intermediates and enzymes important in human disease. Subject is divided into four areas: carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and nucleic acids. The importance of these areas is underscored with examples from diseases and clinical correlations. Preparatory sessions meet in August. Only HST students may register under HST.146, graded P/D/F. Enrollment limited.
R. Sharma

HST.151 Principles of Pharmacology
______

Graduate (IAP, Spring); partial term
(Subject meets with HST.150)
Prereq: Biology (GIR), Physics I (GIR), and 7.05
Units: 6-0-6
HST.150: Meets during iap. Meets 1/6 - 3/26. Final exam at hms. Lecture: MW9-12 (MEC-250)
HST.151: Meets during iap. Meets 1/6 - 3/26. Final exam at hms. Lecture: MW9-12 (MEC-250)
______
Covers both general pharmacological principles (pharmacodynamics, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenetics, drug interactions, pharmacoepidemiology, pharmaco-economics, and the placebo effect), and important clinical pharmacology areas (anti-microbials, general anesthetics, local anesthetics, autonomic modulation, anti-dysrhythmics, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, anti-inflammatory drugs for rheumatology, immunomodulation for organ transplant, cancer chemotherapy, neuropsychopharmacology, opioids and opioid use disorder, cannabinoids, and drug delivery engineering). In addition, students taking the subject for credit contribute to teaching by presenting and analyzing clinical cases and therapeutic strategies. Highly recommended that students have prior education in human physiology and pathophysiology. Subject follows HMS calendar. Restricted to HST MD & HST PhD students.
IAP: S. Forman
Spring: S. Forman
HST.150: Textbooks (IAP 2025); Textbooks (Spring 2025)
HST.151: Textbooks (IAP 2025); Textbooks (Spring 2025)

HST.160 Genetics in Modern Medicine
______

Graduate (Fall); second half of term
(Subject meets with HST.161)
Prereq: 7.05
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
Provides a foundation for understanding the relationship between molecular biology, genetics, and medicine. Starts with an introduction to molecular genetics, and quickly transitions to the genetic basis of diseases, including chromosomal, mitochondrial and epigenetic disease. Translation of clinical understanding into analysis at the level of the gene, chromosome, and molecule; the concepts and techniques of molecular biology and genomics; and the strategies and methods of genetic analysis. Includes diagnostics (prenatal and adult), cancer genetics, and the development of genetic therapies (RNA, viral, and genome editing). The clinical relevance of these areas is underscored with patient presentations. Only HST students may register under HST.160, graded P/D/F.
S. Nissim, R. Gupta

HST.161 Genetics in Modern Medicine
______

Graduate (Fall); second half of term
(Subject meets with HST.160)
Prereq: 7.05
Units: 2-0-4
______
Provides a foundation for understanding the relationship between molecular biology, genetics, and medicine. Starts with an introduction to molecular genetics, and quickly transitions to the genetic basis of diseases, including chromosomal, mitochondrial and epigenetic disease. Translation of clinical understanding into analysis at the level of the gene, chromosome, and molecule; the concepts and techniques of molecular biology and genomics; and the strategies and methods of genetic analysis. Includes diagnostics (prenatal and adult), cancer genetics, and the development of genetic therapies (RNA, viral, and genome editing). The clinical relevance of these areas is underscored with patient presentations. Only HST students may register under HST.160, graded P/D/F.
S. Nissim, R. Gupta

HST.162 Molecular Diagnostics and Bioinformatics
______

Graduate (Fall); first half of term
(Subject meets with HST.163)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
Introduction of molecular diagnostic methods in medicine and relevant bioinformatics methods. Discussion of principles of molecular testing for diagnosis of somatic and germline diseases using FISH, classical genotyping, array CGH, next generation sequencing, and other technologies. Case conferences emphasize clinical correlation and integration of information from multiple diagnostic tests. Bioinformatics lectures, problem sets, and laboratory sessions will introduce key concepts in biological sequence analysis and provide experience with bioinformatics tools. HST.015 and HST.191 recommended. Only HST students may register under HST.162, P/D/F. Enrollment limited, preference to HST students.
Staff

HST.163 Molecular Diagnostics and Bioinformatics
______

Graduate (Fall); first half of term
(Subject meets with HST.162)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Introduction of molecular diagnostic methods in medicine and relevant bioinformatics methods. Discussion of principles of molecular testing for diagnosis of somatic and germline diseases using FISH, classical genotyping, array CGH, next generation sequencing, and other technologies. Case conferences emphasize clinical correlation and integration of information from multiple diagnostic tests. Bioinformatics lectures, problem sets, and laboratory sessions will introduce key concepts in biological sequence analysis and provide experience with bioinformatics tools. HST.015 and HST.191 recommended. Only HST students may register under HST.162, P/D/F. Enrollment limited, preference to HST students.
G. Gerber, L. Le

HST.164 Principles of Biomedical Imaging
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (IAP)
(Subject meets with HST.165)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
Reviews fundamental principles and techniques underlying modern biomedical imaging, as well as their application in modern medicine. Particular emphasis on magnetic resonance; also covers ultrasound, computed tomography, positron emission tomography and optical techniques. Didactic lectures accompanied by problem sets and experiments with portable magnetic resonance systems and ultrasound systems. Focuses on the quantitative aspects of biomedical imaging and requires a knowledge of differential equations, MATLAB, and intermediate-level physics. Only HST students may register under HST.164, P/D/F. Restricted to HST students.
Staff

HST.165 Principles of Biomedical Imaging
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (IAP)
(Subject meets with HST.164)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Reviews fundamental principles and techniques underlying modern biomedical imaging, as well as their application in modern medicine. Particular emphasis on magnetic resonance; also covers ultrasound, computed tomography, positron emission tomography and optical techniques. Didactic lectures accompanied by problem sets and experiments with portable magnetic resonance systems and ultrasound systems. Focuses on the quantitative aspects of biomedical imaging and requires a knowledge of differential equations, MATLAB, and intermediate-level physics. Only HST students may register under HST.164, P/D/F. Restricted to HST students.
S. Huang, D. Sosnovik

HST.175 Cellular and Molecular Immunology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with HST.176)
Prereq: 7.05
Units: 6-0-6 [P/D/F]
______
Covers cells and tissues of the immune system, lymphocyte development, the structure and function of antigen receptors, the cell biology of antigen processing and presentation including molecular structure and assembly of MHC molecules, lymphocyte activation, the biology of cytokines, leukocyte-endothelial interactions, and the pathogenesis of immunologically mediated diseases. Consists of lectures and tutorials in which clinical cases are discussed with faculty tutors. Details of each case covering a number of immunological issues in the context of disease are posted on a student website. Limited to 45.
Staff

HST.176 Cellular and Molecular Immunology
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with HST.175)
Prereq: 7.05
Units: 6-0-6
______
Covers cells and tissues of the immune system, lymphocyte development, the structure and function of antigen receptors, the cell biology of antigen processing and presentation including molecular structure and assembly of MHC molecules, lymphocyte activation, the biology of cytokines, leukocyte-endothelial interactions, and the pathogenesis of immunologically mediated diseases. Consists of lectures and tutorials in which clinical cases are discussed with faculty tutors. Details of each case covering a number of immunological issues in the context of disease are posted on a student website. Only HST students may register under HST.175, graded P/D/F. Limited to 45.
S. Pillai, B. Cherayil

HST.191 Introduction to Biostatistics
______

Graduate (Summer)
(Subject meets with HST.190)
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR)
Units: 3-0-3
______
Provides training in the use of statistics to comprehend, reason about, and communicate findings from the biomedical sciences, with an emphasis on critical reading of studies published in the literature. Considers assessment of the importance of chance in the interpretation of experimental data from randomized studies and clinical trials. Topics surveyed include basic probability theory; approximate and exact inferential methods such as chi-squared and t-tests, ANOVA, and their permutation-based analogues; linear and generalized linear regression models; survival analysis; causal inference; and statistical data analysis using high-level programming languages such as R. Enrollment restricted to students in the HST program.
N. Hejazi

HST.192 Medical Decision Analysis and Probabilistic Medical Inference
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (IAP)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Teaches the essentials of quantitative diagnostic reasoning and medical decision analysis. Guides participants through the process of choosing an appropriate contemporary medical problem in which risk-benefit tradeoffs play a prominent role, conducting a decision analysis, and ultimately publishing the results in a medical journal. Topics include decision trees, influence diagrams, Markov decision models and Monte Carlo simulation, methods for quantifying patient values, Bayesian inference, decision thresholds, and the cognitive science of medical decision making. HST.191 recommended. Limited to 8; preference to HST students.
M. B. Westover

HST.195 Clinical Epidemiology
______

Graduate (IAP, Spring); first half of term
(Subject meets with HST.194)
Prereq: HST.190
Units: 1-0-1
HST.194: Meets during iap. Meets 1/6 - 2/24. Ends Mar 21. Lecture: M1-4 (MEC-250)
HST.195: Meets during iap. Meets 1/6 - 2/24. Ends Mar 21. Lecture: M1-4 (MEC-250)
______
Introduces methods for the generation, analysis, and interpretation of data for clinical research. Major topics include the design of surveys, predictive models, randomized trials, clinical cohorts, and analyses of electronic health records. Prepares students to formulate well-defined research questions, design data collection, evaluate algorithms for clinical prediction, design studies for causal inference, and identify and prevent biases in clinical research. Emphasizes critical thinking and practical applications, including daily assignments based on articles published in major clinical journals and the discussion of a case study each week. Trains students to comprehend, critique, and communicate findings from the biomedical literature. Familiarity with regression modeling and basic statistical theory is a prerequisite. Only HST students may register under HST.194, graded P/D/F. Enrollment limited; restricted to medical and graduate students.
M. Hernan
HST.194: Textbooks (IAP 2025); Textbooks (Spring 2025)
HST.195: Textbooks (IAP 2025); Textbooks (Spring 2025)

HST.196 Teaching Health Sciences and Technology
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Provides teaching experience (classroom, laboratory, field, recitation, tutorial) under the direction of faculty member(s). Students may prepare instructional materials, lead discussion groups, provide individualized instruction, monitor students' progress, and gain experience delivering other educational elements. Limited to qualified graduate students.
Fall: T. Anderson
IAP: T. Anderson
Spring: T. Anderson
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.198 Independent Study in Health Sciences and Technology
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study of health sciences and technology under regular supervision by an HST faculty member. Projects require prior approval from the HST Academic Office, as well as a substantive paper.
Fall: HST Faculty
IAP: HST Faculty
Spring: HST Faculty
Summer: HST Faculty
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.200 Introduction to Clinical Medicine
______

Graduate (IAP, Spring); partial term
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 9-19-12 [P/D/F]
Meets during iap. Meets 1/7 - 3/28. Meets 2/4 to 3/27. Lecture: TRF8-5 (BW - HOSPITAL)
______
Intensive preparation for clinical clerkships that introduces the basic skills involved in examination of the patient in addition to history taking and the patient interview. Provides exposure to clinical problems in medicine, surgery, and pediatrics. Students report their findings through history taking and oral presentations. Restricted to MD program students.
IAP: W. Goessling, D. Rubinson, D. Solomon, J. Irani, A. Vise
Spring: W. Goessling, D. Rubinson, D. Solomon, J. Irani, A. Vise
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.201 Introduction to Clinical Medicine and Medical Engineering I
______

Graduate (Summer)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-20-0 [P/D/F]
______
Develop skills in patient interviewing and physical examination; become proficient at organizing and communicating clinical information in both written and oral forms; begin integrating history, physical, and laboratory data with pathophysiologic principles; and become familiar with the clinical decision-making process and broad economic, ethical, and sociological issues involved in patient care. There are two sections: one at Mount Auburn Hospital and one at West Roxbury VA Hospital, subsequent registration into HST.202 must be continued at the same hospital as HST.201. Restricted to MEMP students.
N. Price, A. Romano, J. Strymish, C. Stultz

HST.202 Introduction to Clinical Medicine and Medical Engineering II
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Prereq: HST.201
Units: 0-20-0 [P/D/F]
W roxbury va hospital. Schedules individually arrang. Lab: TBA
______
Strengthens the skills developed in HST.201 through a six-week clerkship in medicine at a Harvard-affiliated teaching hospital. Students serve as full-time members of a ward team and participate in longitudinal patient care. In addition, students participate in regularly scheduled teaching conferences focused on principles of patient management. Restricted to MEMP students.
Fall: A. Romano, J. Strymish, C. Stultz
IAP: N. Price, A. Romano, J. Strymish, C. Stultz
Spring: A. Romano, J. Strymish, C. Stultz
Summer: A. Romano, J. Strymish, C. Stultz
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.207 Introduction to Clinical Medicine and Medical Engineering
______

Graduate (Spring); partial term
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-30-0 [P/D/F]
Meets late February. Through early May. Lab: MTWRF9-5 (MGH)
______
Introduction to the intricacies of clinical decision-making through broad exposure to how clinicians think and work in teams. Instruction provided in patient interviewing and physical examination; organizing and communicating clinical information in written and oral forms; and integrating history, physical, and laboratory data with pathophysiologic principles. Attention to the economic, ethical, and sociological issues involved in patient care. Consists of immersive clinical experiences at Massachusetts General Hospital, leveraging extensive educational resources across inpatient clinical floors, ambulatory clinics, procedural/surgical suites, diagnostic testing areas, simulation learning lab, and didactic settings, followed by a focused experience in which students develop a proposal to solve an unmet need identified during their clinical experiences. Equivalent to combination of HST.201 and HST.202. Restricted to HST MEMP students.
C. Stultz, J. Ziperstein, P. Ankomah, A. Puig
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.220 Introduction to the Care of Patients
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
Students meet with the course. One of 4 dates in January. Followed by individually arra. With faculty preceptors. From Feb - May. Lecture: TBA
______
Provides an introduction to the care of patients through opportunities to observe and participate in doctor-patient interaction in clinical settings and a longitudinal preceptorship experience with HST alumni physicians. Students are exposed to some of the practical realities of providing patient care. Topics include basic interviewing; issues of ethics, bias, and confidentiality; and other aspects of the doctor-patient relationship. The introductory session is held at HMS or Massachusetts General Hospital and the preceptorships are at several Harvard hospitals in Boston. Requirements include attendance at the introductory session and meetings scheduled with the preceptor.
N. Tetteh
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.240 Translational Medicine Preceptorship
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Prereq: HST.035
Units: 0-12-0
Lab: TBA
______
Individually designed preceptorship joins together scientific research and clinical medicine. Students devote approximately half of their time to clinical experiences, and the remaining part to scholarly work in basic or clinical science. The two might run concomitantly or in series. Follow a clinical preceptor's daily activity, including aspects of patient care, attending rounds, conferences, and seminars. Research involves formal investigation of a focused and directed issue related to selected clinical area. Final paper required. Limited to students in the GEMS Program.
Fall: E. Edelman
Spring: E. Edelman
Summer: E. Edelman
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.420[J] Principles and Practice of Assistive Technology
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 2.78[J], 6.4530[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-4-6
______
Students work closely with people with disabilities to develop assistive and adaptive technologies that help them live more independently. Covers design methods and problem-solving strategies; human factors; human-machine interfaces; community perspectives; social and ethical aspects; and assistive technology for motor, cognitive, perceptual, and age-related impairments. Prior knowledge of one or more of the following areas useful: software; electronics; human-computer interaction; cognitive science; mechanical engineering; control; or MIT hobby shop, MIT PSC, or other relevant independent project experience. Enrollment may be limited.
Staff

HST.431[J] Infections and Inequalities: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Global Health
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 11.134[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines case studies in infectious disease outbreaks to demonstrate how human health is a product of multiple determinants, such as biology, sociocultural and historical factors, politics, economic processes, and the environment. Analyzes how structural inequalities render certain populations vulnerable to illness and explores the moral and ethical dimensions of public health and clinical interventions to promote health. Limited to 25.
Staff

HST.434 Evolution of an Epidemic (Study Abroad)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (IAP)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Examines the medical, scientific, public health and policy responses to a new disease, by focusing on the evolution of the AIDS epidemic. Begins with a review of how this new disease was first detected in the US and Africa, followed by the scientific basis as to how HIV causes profound dysfunction of the body's immune defense mechanisms, the rational development of drugs, the challenge of an HIV vaccine, and how public health and policy decisions have influenced the course of the global epidemic. Class conducted in Johannesburg Durban, South Africa. Open to all majors. Limited to 20. Application required; see class website for eligibility details.
H. Heller, B. Walker

HST.438[J] Viruses, Pandemics, and Immunity
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 5.002[J], 10.380[J])
(Subject meets with 5.003[J], 8.245[J], 10.382[J], HST.439[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1
______
Covers the history of infectious diseases, basics of virology, immunology, and epidemiology, and ways in which diagnostic tests, vaccines, and antiviral therapies are currently designed and manufactured. Examines the origins of inequities in infection rates in society, and issues pertinent to vaccine safety. Final project explores how to create a more pandemic-resilient world. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Preference to first-year students; all others should take HST.439.
A. Chakraborty

HST.439[J] Viruses, Pandemics, and Immunity
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 5.003[J], 8.245[J], 10.382[J])
(Subject meets with 5.002[J], 10.380[J], HST.438[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1
______
Covers the history of infectious diseases, basics of virology, immunology, and epidemiology, and ways in which diagnostic tests, vaccines, and antiviral therapies are currently designed and manufactured. Examines the origins of inequities in infection rates in society, and issues pertinent to vaccine safety. Final project explores how to create a more pandemic-resilient world. HST.438 intended for first-year students; all others should take HST.439.
A. Chakraborty

HST.450[J] Biological Physics
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 8.593[J])
Prereq: 8.044 recommended but not necessary
Units: 4-0-8
______
Designed to provide seniors and first-year graduate students with a quantitative, analytical understanding of selected biological phenomena. Topics include experimental and theoretical basis for the phase boundaries and equation of state of concentrated protein solutions, with application to diseases such as sickle cell anemia and cataract. Protein-ligand binding and linkage and the theory of allosteric regulation of protein function, with application to proteins as stores as transporters in respiration, enzymes in metabolic pathways, membrane receptors, regulators of gene expression, and self-assembling scaffolds. The physics of locomotion and chemoreception in bacteria and the biophysics of vision, including the theory of transparency of the eye, molecular basis of photo reception, and the detection of light as a signal-to-noise discrimination.
Staff

HST.452[J] Statistical Physics in Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 8.592[J])
Prereq: 8.333 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
A survey of problems at the interface of statistical physics and modern biology: bioinformatic methods for extracting information content of DNA; gene finding, sequence comparison, phylogenetic trees. Physical interactions responsible for structure of biopolymers; DNA double helix, secondary structure of RNA, elements of protein folding. Considerations of force, motion, and packaging; protein motors, membranes. Collective behavior of biological elements; cellular networks, neural networks, and evolution.
M. Kardar

HST.460[J] Statistics for Neuroscience Research
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 9.073[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
A survey of statistical methods for neuroscience research. Core topics include introductions to the theory of point processes, the generalized linear model, Monte Carlo methods, Bayesian methods, multivariate methods, time-series analysis, spectral analysis and state-space modeling. Emphasis on developing a firm conceptual understanding of the statistical paradigm and statistical methods primarily through analyses of actual experimental data.
E. N. Brown

HST.482[J] Biomedical Signal and Image Processing
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.8801[J])
(Subject meets with 6.8800[J], 16.456[J], HST.582[J])
Prereq: (6.3700 or permission of instructor) and (2.004, 6.3000, 16.002, or 18.085)
Units: 3-1-8
Lecture: TR9-10.30 (E25-117) Lab: F9 (34-301) or F10 (34-301)
______
Fundamentals of digital signal processing with emphasis on problems in biomedical research and clinical medicine. Basic principles and algorithms for processing both deterministic and random signals. Topics include data acquisition, imaging, filtering, coding, feature extraction, and modeling. Lab projects, performed in MATLAB, provide practical experience in processing physiological data, with examples from cardiology, speech processing, and medical imaging. Lectures cover signal processing topics relevant to the lab exercises, as well as background on the biological signals processed in the labs. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Alam
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.500 Frontiers in (Bio)Medical Engineering and Physics
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (E25-117)
______
Provides a framework for mapping research topics at the intersection of medicine and engineering/physics in the Harvard-MIT community and covers the different research areas in MEMP (for example, regenerative biomedical technologies, biomedical imaging and biooptics). Lectures provide fundamental concepts and consider what's hot, and why, in each area. Training in scientific proposal writing (thesis proposals, fellowship applications, or research grant applications) through writing workshops. Topics include how to structure a novel research project, how to position research within the scientific community, how to present preliminary data effectively, and how to give and respond to peer reviews.
S. Bhatia, D. Anderson
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.504[J] Topics in Computational Molecular Biology
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 18.418[J])
Prereq: 6.8701, 18.417, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers current research topics in computational molecular biology. Recent research papers presented from leading conferences such as the International Conference on Computational Molecular Biology (RECOMB) and the Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB). Topics include original research (both theoretical and experimental) in comparative genomics, sequence and structure analysis, molecular evolution, proteomics, gene expression, transcriptional regulation, biological networks, drug discovery, and privacy. Recent research by course participants also covered. Participants will be expected to present individual projects to the class.
B. Berger

HST.506[J] Computational Systems Biology: Deep Learning in the Life Sciences
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.8710[J])
(Subject meets with 6.8711[J], 20.390[J], 20.490)
Prereq: Biology (GIR) and (6.3700 or 18.600)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR12.30-2 (10-250)
______
Presents innovative approaches to computational problems in the life sciences, focusing on deep learning-based approaches with comparisons to conventional methods. Topics include protein-DNA interaction, chromatin accessibility, regulatory variant interpretation, medical image understanding, medical record understanding, therapeutic design, and experiment design (the choice and interpretation of interventions). Focuses on machine learning model selection, robustness, and interpretation. Teams complete a multidisciplinary final research project using TensorFlow or other framework. Provides a comprehensive introduction to each life sciences problem, but relies upon students understanding probabilistic problem formulations. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. Alm, B. Berger
No textbook information available

HST.507[J] Advanced Computational Biology: Genomes, Networks, Evolution
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.8700[J])
(Subject meets with 6.8701)
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), 6.1210, and 6.3700) or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
See description for 6.8701. Additionally examines recent publications in the areas covered, with research-style assignments. A more substantial final project is expected, which can lead to a thesis and publication.
M. Kellis

HST.508[J] Evolutionary and Quantitative Genomics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.872[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Develops deep quantitative understanding of basic forces of evolution, molecular evolution, genetic variations and their dynamics in populations, genetics of complex phenotypes, and genome-wide association studies. Applies these foundational concepts to cutting-edge studies in epigenetics, gene regulation and chromatin; cancer genomics and microbiomes. Modules consist of lectures, journal club discussions of high-impact publications, and guest lectures that provide clinical correlates. Homework assignments and final projects develop practical experience and understanding of genomic data from evolutionary principles.
L. Mirny, T. Lieberman

HST.515[J] Aerospace Biomedical and Life Support Engineering
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 16.423[J], IDS.337[J])
Prereq: 16.06, 16.400, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Fundamentals of human performance, physiology, and life support impacting engineering design and aerospace systems. Topics include effects of gravity on the muscle, skeletal, cardiovascular, and neurovestibular systems; human/pilot modeling and human/machine design; flight experiment design; and life support engineering for extravehicular activity (EVA). Case studies of current research are presented. Assignments include a design project, quantitative homework sets, and quizzes emphasizing engineering and systems aspects.
L. Petersen

HST.518[J] Human Systems Engineering
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 16.453[J])
(Subject meets with 16.400)
Prereq: 6.3700, 16.09, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a fundamental understanding of human factors that must be taken into account in the design and engineering of complex aviation, space, and medical systems. Focuses primarily on derivation of human engineering design criteria from sensory, motor, and cognitive sources. Includes principles of displays, controls and ergonomics, manual control, the nature of human error, basic experimental design, and human-computer interaction in supervisory control settings. Students taking graduate version complete a research project with a final written report and oral presentation.
A.M. Liu

HST.522[J] Biomaterials: Tissue Interactions
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 2.79[J])
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics I (GIR)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Principles of materials science and cell biology underlying the development and implementation of biomaterials for the fabrication of medical devices/implants, including artificial organs and matrices for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Employs a conceptual model, the "unit cell process for analysis of the mechanisms underlying wound healing and tissue remodeling following implantation of biomaterials/devices in various organs, including matrix synthesis, degradation, and contraction. Methodology of tissue and organ regeneration. Discusses methods for biomaterials surface characterization and analysis of protein adsorption on biomaterials. Design of implants and prostheses based on control of biomaterials-tissue interactions. Comparative analysis of intact, biodegradable, and bioreplaceable implants by reference to case studies. Criteria for restoration of physiological function for tissues and organs.
I. V. Yannas, M. Spector

HST.523[J] Cell-Matrix Mechanics
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 2.785[J])
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and 2.001) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Mechanical forces play a decisive role during development of tissues and organs, during remodeling following injury as well as in normal function. A stress field influences cell function primarily through deformation of the extracellular matrix to which cells are attached. Deformed cells express different biosynthetic activity relative to undeformed cells. The unit cell process paradigm combined with topics in connective tissue mechanics form the basis for discussions of several topics from cell biology, physiology, and medicine.
Staff

HST.524[J] Design of Medical Devices and Implants
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.782[J])
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics I (GIR)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (5-134)
______
Solution of clinical problems by use of implants and other medical devices. Systematic use of cell-matrix control volumes. The role of stress analysis in the design process. Anatomic fit: shape and size of implants. Selection of biomaterials. Instrumentation for surgical implantation procedures. Preclinical testing for safety and efficacy: risk/benefit ratio assessment. Evaluation of clinical performance: design of clinical trials. Project materials drawn from orthopedic devices, soft tissue implants, artificial organs, and dental implants.
M. Spector
No textbook information available

HST.525[J] Tumor Microenvironment and Immuno-Oncology: A Systems Biology Approach
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 10.548[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Provides theoretical background to analyze and synthesize the most up-to-date findings from both laboratory and clinical investigations into solid tumor pathophysiology. Covers different topics centered on the critical role that the tumor microenvironment plays in the growth, invasion, metastasis and treatment of solid tumors. Develops a systems-level, quantitative understanding of angiogenesis, extracellular matrix, metastatic process, delivery of drugs and immune cells, and response to conventional and novel therapies, including immunotherapies. Discussions provide critical comments on the challenges and the future opportunities in research on cancer and in establishment of novel therapeutic approaches and biomarkers to guide treatment.
R. K. Jain, L. Munn

HST.526[J] Future Medicine: Drug Delivery, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 10.643[J])
(Subject meets with 10.443)
Prereq: 5.12 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Aims to describe the direction and future of medical technology. Introduces pharmaceutics, pharmacology, and conventional medical devices, then transitions to drug delivery systems, mechanical/electric-based and biological/cell-based therapies, and sensors. Covers nano- and micro drug delivery systems, including polymer-drug conjugates, protein therapeutics, liposomes and polymer nanoparticles, viral and non-viral genetic therapy, and tissue engineering. Previous coursework in cell biology and organic chemistry recommended. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 40.
Staff

HST.531 Medical Physics of Proton Radiation Therapy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Acceleration of protons for radiation therapy; introduction into advanced techniques such as laser acceleration and dielectric wall acceleration. Topics include the interactions of protons with the patient, Monte Carlo simulation, and dose calculation methods; biological aspects of proton therapy, relative biological effectiveness (RBE), and the role of contaminating neutrons; treatment planning and treatment optimization methods, and intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT); the effect of organ motion and its compensation by use of image-guided treatment techniques; general dosimetry and advanced in-vivo dosimetry methods, including PET/CT and prompt gamma measurements. Outlook into therapy with heavier ions. Includes practical demonstrations at the Proton Therapy Center of the Massachusetts General Hospital.
B. Winey, J. Schuemann

HST.533 Medical Imaging in Radiation Therapy
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: 18.06
Units: 2-0-4
Lecture: W9.30-11 (E25-119)
______
Introduces imaging concepts and applications used throughout radiation therapy workflows, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and computed tomography (CT). Advanced topics include proton imaging modalities, such as prompt gamma imaging and proton radiography/CT. Includes lectures regarding image reconstruction and image registration. Introduces students to open-source medical image computing software (3D Slicer, RTK, and Plastimatch). Includes imaging demonstrations at Massachusetts General Hospital.
B. Winey, J. Schuemann
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.535[J] Tissue Engineering and Organ Regeneration
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.787[J])
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics I (GIR)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Principles and practice of tissue engineering (TE) and organ regeneration (OR). Topics include factors that prevent the spontaneous regeneration of tissues/organs in the adult (following traumatic injury, surgical excision, disease, and aging), and molecular and cell-biological mechanisms that can be harnessed for induced regeneration. Presents the basic science of organ regeneration. Principles underlying engineering strategies for employing select biomaterial scaffolds, exogenous cells, soluble regulators, and physical stimuli, for the formation of tissue in vitro (TE) and regeneration of tissues/organs in vivo (OR). Describes the technologies for producing biomaterial scaffolds and for incorporating cells and regulatory molecules into workable devices. Examples of clinical successes and failures of regenerative devices are analyzed as case studies.
M. Spector, I. V. Yannas

HST.537[J] Fluids and Diseases
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.631[J], 2.250[J])
(Subject meets with 1.063)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Designed for students in engineering and the quantitative sciences who want to explore applications of mathematics, physics and fluid dynamics to infectious diseases and health; and for students in epidemiology, environmental health, ecology, medicine, and systems modeling seeking to understand physical and spatial modeling, and the role of fluid dynamics and physical constraints on infectious diseases and pathologies. The first part of the class reviews modeling in epidemiology and data collection, and highlights concepts of spatial modeling and heterogeneity. The remainder highlights multi-scale dynamics, the role of fluids and fluid dynamics in physiology, and pathology in a range of infectious diseases. The laboratory portion entails activities aimed at integrating applied learning with theoretical concepts discussed in lectures and covered in problem sets. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
L. Bourouiba

HST.538[J] Genomics and Evolution of Infectious Disease
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.881[J])
(Subject meets with 1.088)
Prereq: Biology (GIR) and (1.000 or 6.100B)
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR9.30-11 (5-134)
______
Provides a thorough introduction to the forces driving infectious disease evolution, practical experience with bioinformatics and computational tools, and discussions of current topics relevant to public health. Topics include mechanisms of genome variation in bacteria and viruses, population genetics, outbreak detection and tracking, strategies to impede the evolution of drug resistance, emergence of new disease, and microbiomes and metagenomics. Discusses primary literature and computational assignments. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
T. Lieberman
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.539[J] Advances in Interdisciplinary Science in Human Health and Disease
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 5.64[J])
Prereq: 5.13, 5.601, 5.602, and (5.07 or 7.05)
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces major principles, concepts, and clinical applications of biophysics, biophysical chemistry, and systems biology. Emphasizes biological macromolecular interactions, biochemical reaction dynamics, and genomics. Discusses current technological frontiers and areas of active research at the interface of basic and clinical science. Provides integrated, interdisciplinary training and core experimental and computational methods in molecular biochemistry and genomics.
A. Shalek, X. Wang

HST.540[J] Human Physiology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 7.20[J])
Prereq: 7.05
Units: 5-0-7
______
Comprehensive exploration of human physiology, emphasizing the molecular basis and applied aspects of organ function and regulation in health and disease. Includes a review of cell structure and function, as well as the mechanisms by which the endocrine and nervous systems integrate cellular metabolism. Special emphasis on examining the cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and renal systems, as well as liver function, drug metabolism, and pharmacogenetics.
M. Krieger, O. Yilmaz

HST.541[J] Cellular Neurophysiology and Computing
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.794[J], 6.4812[J], 9.021[J], 20.470[J])
(Subject meets with 2.791[J], 6.4810[J], 9.21[J], 20.370[J])
Prereq: (Physics II (GIR), 18.03, and (2.005, 6.2000, 6.3000, 10.301, or 20.110)) or permission of instructor
Units: 5-2-5
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Integrated overview of the biophysics of cells from prokaryotes to neurons, with a focus on mass transport and electrical signal generation across cell membrane. First third of course focuses on mass transport through membranes: diffusion, osmosis, chemically mediated, and active transport. Second third focuses on electrical properties of cells: ion transport to action potential generation and propagation in electrically excitable cells. Synaptic transmission. Electrical properties interpreted via kinetic and molecular properties of single voltage-gated ion channels. Final third focuses on biophysics of synaptic transmission and introduction to neural computing. Laboratory and computer exercises illustrate the concepts. Students taking graduate version complete different assignments.
Staff

HST.542[J] Quantitative and Clinical Physiology
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 2.792[J], 6.4820[J])
(Subject meets with 2.796[J], 6.4822[J], 16.426[J])
Prereq: Physics II (GIR), 18.03, or permission of instructor
Units: 4-2-6
______
Application of the principles of energy and mass flow to major human organ systems. Anatomical, physiological and clinical features of the cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems. Mechanisms of regulation and homeostasis. Systems, features and devices that are most illuminated by the methods of physical sciences and engineering models. Required laboratory work includes animal studies. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
T. Heldt, R. G. Mark

HST.552[J] Medical Device Design
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 2.75[J], 6.4861[J])
(Subject meets with 2.750[J], 6.4860[J])
Prereq: 2.008, 6.2040, 6.2050, 6.2060, 22.071, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
URL: https://meddevdesign.mit.edu/
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (3-270)
______
Provides an intense project-based learning experience around the design of medical devices with foci ranging from mechanical to electro mechanical to electronics. Projects motivated by real-world clinical challenges provided by sponsors and clinicians who also help mentor teams. Covers the design process, project management, and fundamentals of mechanical and electrical circuit and sensor design. Students work in small teams to execute a substantial term project, with emphasis placed upon developing creative designs — via a deterministic design process — that are developed and optimized using analytical techniques. Includes mandatory lab. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited.
A. H. Slocum, E. Roche, N. C. Hanumara, G. Traverso, A. Pennes
No textbook information available

HST.560[J] Radiation Biophysics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 22.55[J])
(Subject meets with 22.055)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a background in sources of radiation with an emphasis on terrestrial and space environments and on industrial production. Discusses experimental approaches to evaluating biological effects resulting from irradiation regimes differing in radiation type, dose and dose-rate. Effects at the molecular, cellular, organism, and population level are examined. Literature is reviewed identifying gaps in our understanding of the health effects of radiation, and responses of regulatory bodies to these gaps is discussed. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Staff

HST.562[J] Pioneering Technologies for Interrogating Complex Biological Systems
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 9.271[J], 10.562[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR11-12.30 (46-6199)
______
Introduces pioneering technologies in biology and medicine and discusses their underlying biological/molecular/engineering principles. Topics include emerging sample processing technologies, advanced optical imaging modalities, and next-gen molecular phenotyping techniques. Provides practical experience with optical microscopy and 3D phenotyping techniques. Limited to 15.
K. Chung
No textbook information available

HST.563 Imaging Biophysics and Clinical Applications
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: (8.03 and 18.03) or permission of instructor
Units: 2-1-9
______
Introduction to the connections and distinctions among various imaging modalities (x-ray, optical, ultrasound, MRI, PET, SPECT, EEG), common goals of biomedical imaging, broadly defined target of biomedical imaging, and the current practical and economic landscape of biomedical imaging research. Emphasis on applications of imaging research. Final project consists of student groups writing mock grant applications for biomedical imaging research project, modeled after an exploratory National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant application.
C. Catana

HST.565 Medical Imaging Sciences and Applications
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers biophysical, biomedical, mathematical and instrumentation basics of positron emission tomography (PET), x-ray and computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single photon emission tomography (SPECT), optical Imaging and ultrasound. Topics include particles and photon interactions, nuclear counting statistics, gamma cameras, and computed tomography as it pertains to SPECT and PET (PET-CT, PET-MR, time-of-flight PET), MR physics and various sequences, optical and ultrasound physics foundations for imaging. Discusses clinical applications of PET and MR in molecular imaging of the brain, the heart, cancer and the role of AI in medical imaging. Includes medical demonstration lectures of SPECT, PET-CT and PET-MR imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital. Considers the ways imaging techniques are rooted in physics, engineering, and mathematics, and their respective role in anatomic and physiologic/molecular imaging.
HST Faculty

HST.576[J] Topics in Neural Signal Processing
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 9.272[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Presents signal processing and statistical methods used to study neural systems and analyze neurophysiological data. Topics include state-space modeling formulated using the Bayesian Chapman-Kolmogorov system, theory of point processes, EM algorithm, Bayesian and sequential Monte Carlo methods. Applications include dynamic analyses of neural encoding, neural spike train decoding, studies of neural receptive field plasticity, algorithms for neural prosthetic control, EEG and MEG source localization. Students should know introductory probability theory and statistics.
E. N. Brown
No textbook information available

HST.580[J] Data Acquisition and Image Reconstruction in MRI
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.8810[J])
Prereq: 6.3010
Units: 3-0-9
______
Applies analysis of signals and noise in linear systems, sampling, and Fourier properties to magnetic resonance (MR) imaging acquisition and reconstruction. Provides adequate foundation for MR physics to enable study of RF excitation design, efficient Fourier sampling, parallel encoding, reconstruction of non-uniformly sampled data, and the impact of hardware imperfections on reconstruction performance. Surveys active areas of MR research. Assignments include Matlab-based work with real data. Includes visit to a scan site for human MR studies.
E. Adalsteinsson

HST.582[J] Biomedical Signal and Image Processing
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.8800[J], 16.456[J])
(Subject meets with 6.8801[J], HST.482[J])
Prereq: (6.3700 and (2.004, 6.3000, 16.002, or 18.085)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
Lecture: TR9-10.30 (E25-117) Lab: F9 (34-301) or F10 (34-301)
______
Fundamentals of digital signal processing with emphasis on problems in biomedical research and clinical medicine. Basic principles and algorithms for processing both deterministic and random signals. Topics include data acquisition, imaging, filtering, coding, feature extraction, and modeling. Lab projects, performed in MATLAB, provide practical experience in processing physiological data, with examples from cardiology, speech processing, and medical imaging. Lectures cover signal processing topics relevant to the lab exercises, as well as background on the biological signals processed in the labs. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. Alam
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.583[J] Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Data Acquisition and Analysis
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 9.583[J])
Prereq: 18.05 and (18.06 or permission of instructor)
Units: 2-3-7
______
Provides background necessary for designing, conducting, and interpreting fMRI studies in the human brain. Covers in depth the physics of image encoding, mechanisms of anatomical and functional contrasts, the physiological basis of fMRI signals, cerebral hemodynamics, and neurovascular coupling. Also covers design methods for stimulus-, task-driven and resting-state experiments, as well as workflows for model-based and data-driven analysis methods for data. Instruction in brain structure analysis and surface- and region-based analyses. Laboratory sessions include data acquisition sessions at the 3 Tesla MRI scanner at MIT and the Connectom and 7 Tesla scanners at the MGH/HST Martinos Center, as well as hands-on data analysis workshops. Introductory or college-level neurobiology, physics, and signal processing are helpful.
J. Polimeni, A. Yendiki, J. Chen

HST.584[J] Magnetic Resonance Analytic, Biochemical, and Imaging Techniques
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 22.561[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-12
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (E25-119)
______
Introduction to basic NMR theory. Examples of biochemical data obtained using NMR summarized along with other related experiments. Detailed study of NMR imaging techniques includes discussions of basic cross-sectional image reconstruction, image contrast, flow and real-time imaging, and hardware design considerations. Exposure to laboratory NMR spectroscopic and imaging equipment included.
L. Wald, B. Bilgic, J.Stockmann
No textbook information available

HST.590 Biomedical Engineering Seminar Series
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
Select thursdays. Lecture: R EVE (4.30-6.30 PM) (E25-117)
______
Seminars focused on the development of professional skills for biomedical engineers and scientists. Each term focuses on a different topic, resulting in a repeating cycle that covers biomedical and research ethics, business and entrepreneurship, global health and biomedical innovation, and health systems and policy. Includes guest lectures, case studies, interactive small group discussions, and role-playing simulations.
Fall: J. Greenberg
Spring: H. Besche, S. Sherman
No required or recommended textbooks

HST.599 Research in Health Sciences and Technology
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For students conducting pre-thesis research or lab rotations in HST, in cases where the assigned research is approved for academic credit by the department. Hours arranged with research advisor. Restricted to HST students.
Fall: T. Anderson
IAP: T. Anderson
Spring: T. Anderson
No required or recommended textbooks


left arrow | HST.00-HST.599 | HST.600-HST.999 plus UROP and Thesis | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Institute for Data, Systems and Society
IAP/Spring 2025


IDS.012[J] Statistics, Computation and Applications
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.3730[J])
(Subject meets with 6.3732[J], IDS.131[J])
Prereq: (6.100B, (18.03, 18.06, or 18.C06), and (6.3700, 6.3800, 14.30, 16.09, or 18.05)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (2-190) Recitation: W4 (36-144) or F10 (36-144) or F11 (36-156)
______
Hands-on analysis of data demonstrates the interplay between statistics and computation. Includes four modules, each centered on a specific data set, and introduced by a domain expert. Provides instruction in specific, relevant analysis methods and corresponding algorithmic aspects. Potential modules may include medical data, gene regulation, social networks, finance data (time series), traffic, transportation, weather forecasting, policy, or industrial web applications. Projects address a large-scale data analysis question. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited; priority to Statistics and Data Science minors, and to juniors and seniors.
C. Uhler, N. Azizan, M. Roozbehani
No required or recommended textbooks

IDS.013[J] Statistical Thinking and Data Analysis
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) Institute Lab
(Same subject as 15.075[J])
Prereq: 6.3700 or 15.069
Units: 3-1-8
______
Introduces a rigorous treatment of statistical data analysis while helping students develop a strong intuition for the strengths and limitations of various methods. Topics include statistical sampling and uncertainty, estimation, hypothesis testing, linear regression, classification, analysis of variation, and elements of data mining. Involves empirical use of hypothesis testing and other statistical methodologies in several domains, including the assessment of A-B experiments on the web and the identification of genes correlated with diseases.
Staff

IDS.014[J] Fundamentals of Statistics
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
(Same subject as 18.650[J])
(Subject meets with 18.6501)
Prereq: 6.3700 or 18.600
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: MWF1 (2-190) Recitation: R10 (4-270) or R3 (4-153) or R4 (4-153) +final
______
A rapid introduction to the theoretical foundations of statistical methods that are useful in many applications. Covers a broad range of topics in a short amount of time with the goal of providing a rigorous and cohesive understanding of the modern statistical landscape. Mathematical language is used for intuition and basic derivations but not proofs. Main topics include: parametric estimation, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, Bayesian inference, and linear and logistic regression. Additional topics may include: causal inference, nonparametric estimation, and classification.
Fall: P. Rigollet
Spring: A. Katsevich
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.045[J] System Safety
______

Undergrad (Fall) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Same subject as 16.63[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the concepts of system safety and how to analyze and design safer systems. Topics include the causes of accidents in general, and recent major accidents in particular; hazard analysis, safety-driven design techniques; design of human-automation interaction; integrating safety into the system engineering process; and managing and operating safety-critical systems.
N. Leveson

IDS.050[J] Cybersecurity
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 17.447[J], MAS.460[J])
(Subject meets with 17.448[J], IDS.350[J], MAS.660[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T1-3 (E60-112) Recitation: T3 (E51-390) or R1 (1-136)
______
Focuses on the complexity of cybersecurity in a changing world. Examines national and international aspects of overall cyber ecology. Explores sources and consequences of cyber threats and different types of damages. Considers impacts for and of various aspects of cybersecurity in diverse geostrategic, political, business and economic contexts. Addresses national and international policy responses as well as formal and informal strategies and mechanisms for responding to cyber insecurity and enhancing conditions of cybersecurity. Students taking graduate version expected to pursue subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
N. Choucri, S. Madnick, A. Pentland
No textbook information available

IDS.055[J] Science, Technology, and Public Policy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 17.309[J], STS.082[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 17.310, IDS.412, STS.482
______
Analysis of issues at the intersection of science, technology, public policy, and business. Cases drawn from antitrust and intellectual property rights; health and environmental policy; defense procurement and strategy; strategic trade and industrial policy; and R&D funding. Structured around theories of political economy, modified to take into account integration of uncertain technical information into public and private decision-making. Meets with 17.310 when offered concurrently.
Staff

IDS.057[J] Data and Society
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 11.155[J], STS.005[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces students to the social, political, and ethical aspects of data science work. Designed to create reflective practitioners who are able to think critically about how collecting, aggregating, and analyzing data are social processes and processes that affect people.
E. Medina, S. Williams

IDS.060[J] Environmental Law, Policy, and Economics: Pollution Prevention and Control
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 1.801[J], 11.021[J], 17.393[J])
(Subject meets with 1.811[J], 11.630[J], 15.663[J], IDS.540[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (E51-057) +final
______
Analyzes federal and state regulation of air and water pollution, hazardous waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and production/use of toxic chemicals. Analyzes pollution/climate change as economic problems and failure of markets. Explores the role of science and economics in legal decisions. Emphasizes use of legal mechanisms and alternative approaches (i.e., economic incentives, voluntary approaches) to control pollution and encourage chemical accident and pollution prevention. Focuses on major federal legislation, underlying administrative system, and common law in analyzing environmental policy, economic consequences, and role of the courts. Discusses classical pollutants and toxic industrial chemicals, greenhouse gas emissions, community right-to-know, and environmental justice. Develops basic legal skills: how to read/understand cases, regulations, and statutes. Students taking graduate version explore the subject in greater depth.
N. Ashford, C. Caldart
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.061[J] Regulation of Chemicals, Radiation, and Biotechnology
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.802[J], 11.022[J])
(Subject meets with 1.812[J], 10.805[J], 11.631[J], IDS.436[J], IDS.541[J])
Prereq: IDS.060 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on policy design and evaluation in the regulation of hazardous substances and processes. Includes risk assessment, industrial chemicals, pesticides, food contaminants, pharmaceuticals, radiation and radioactive wastes, product safety, workplace hazards, indoor air pollution, biotechnology, victims' compensation, and administrative law. Health and economic consequences of regulation, as well as its potential to spur technological change, are discussed for each regulatory regime. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
Staff

IDS.062[J] Global Environmental Negotiations
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 12.346[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Practical introduction to global environmental negotiations designed for science and engineering students. Covers basic issues in international negotiations, such as North-South conflict, implementation and compliance, trade, and historical perspective on global environmental treaties. Offers hands-on practice in developing and interpreting international agreements through role-play simulations and observation of ongoing climate change negotiating processes. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
N. E. Selin

IDS.063[J] People and the Planet: Environmental Governance and Science
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 12.387[J], 15.874[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Introduces governance and science aspects of complex environmental problems and approaches to solutions. Introduces quantitative analyses and methodological tools to analyze environmental issues that have human and natural components. Demonstrates concepts through a series of in-depth case studies of environmental governance and science problems. Students develop writing, quantitative modeling, and analytical skills in assessing environmental systems problems and developing solutions. Through experiential activities, such as modeling and policy exercises, students engage with the challenges and possibilities of governance in complex, interacting systems, including biogeophysical processes and societal and stakeholder interactions.
A. Siddiqi

IDS.065[J] Energy Systems for Climate Change Mitigation
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.067[J], 10.421[J])
(Subject meets with 1.670[J], 10.621[J], IDS.521[J])
Prereq: (Calculus I (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics I (GIR)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Reviews the contributions of energy systems to global greenhouse gas emissions, and the levers for reducing those emissions. Lectures and projects focus on evaluating energy systems against climate policy goals, using performance metrics such as cost, carbon intensity, and others. Student projects explore pathways for realizing emissions reduction scenarios. Projects address the climate change mitigation potential of energy technologies (hardware and software), technological and behavioral change trajectories, and technology and policy portfolios. Background in energy systems strongly recommended. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments and explore the subject in greater depth. Preference to students in the Energy Studies or Environment and Sustainability minors.
J. Trancik

IDS.066[J] Law, Technology, and Public Policy
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 11.122[J])
(Subject meets with 11.422[J], 15.655[J], IDS.435[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines how law, economics, and technological change shape public policy, and how law can sway technological change; how the legal system responds to environmental, safety, energy, social, and ethical problems; how law and markets interact to influence technological development; and how law can affect wealth distribution, employment, and social justice. Covers energy/climate change; genetic engineering; telecommunications and role of misinformation; industrial automation; effect of regulation on technological innovation; impacts of antitrust law on innovation and equity; pharmaceuticals; nanotechnology; cost/benefit analysis as a decision tool; public participation in governmental decisions affecting science and technology; corporate influence on technology and welfare; and law and economics as competing paradigms to encourage sustainability. Students taking graduate version explore subject in greater depth.
N. Ashford

IDS.075[J] Transportation: Foundations and Methods
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.041[J])
(Subject meets with 1.200[J], 11.544[J], IDS.675[J])
Prereq: (1.010A and (1.00 or 1.000)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Covers core analytical and numerical methods for modeling, planning, operations, and control of transportation systems. Traffic flow theory, vehicle dynamics and behavior, numerical integration and simulation, graphical analysis. Properties of delays, queueing theory. Resource allocation, optimization models, linear and integer programming. Autonomy in transport, Markov Decision Processes, reinforcement learning, deep learning. Applications drawn broadly from land, air, and sea transport; private and public sector; transport of passengers and goods; futuristic, modern, and historical. Hands-on computational labs. Linear algebra background is encouraged but not required. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. Wu

IDS.131[J] Statistics, Computation and Applications
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.3732[J])
(Subject meets with 6.3730[J], IDS.012[J])
Prereq: (6.100B, (18.03, 18.06, or 18.C06), and (6.3700, 6.3800, 14.30, 16.09, or 18.05)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (2-190) Recitation: W4 (36-144) or F10 (36-144) or F11 (36-156)
______
Hands-on analysis of data demonstrates the interplay between statistics and computation. Includes four modules, each centered on a specific data set, and introduced by a domain expert. Provides instruction in specific, relevant analysis methods and corresponding algorithmic aspects. Potential modules may include medical data, gene regulation, social networks, finance data (time series), traffic, transportation, weather forecasting, policy, or industrial web applications. Projects address a large-scale data analysis question. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited enrollment; priority to Statistics and Data Science minors and to juniors and seniors.
C. Uhler, N. Azizan, M. Roozbehani
No required or recommended textbooks

IDS.136[J] Graphical Models: A Geometric, Algebraic, and Combinatorial Perspective
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 6.7820[J])
Prereq: 6.3702 and 18.06
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides instruction in the geometric, algebraic and combinatorial perspective on graphical models. Presents methods for learning the underlying graph and inferring its parameters. Topics include exponential families, duality theory, conic duality, polyhedral geometry, undirected graphical models, Bayesian networks, Markov properties, total positivity of distributions, hidden variables, and tensor decompositions.
C. Uhler

IDS.140[J] Reinforcement Learning: Foundations and Methods
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.127[J], 6.7920[J])
Prereq: 6.3700 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Examines reinforcement learning (RL) as a methodology for approximately solving sequential decision-making under uncertainty, with foundations in optimal control and machine learning. Provides a mathematical introduction to RL, including dynamic programming, statistical, and empirical perspectives, and special topics. Core topics include: dynamic programming, special structures, finite and infinite horizon Markov Decision Processes, value and policy iteration, Monte Carlo methods, temporal differences, Q-learning, stochastic approximation, and bandits. Also covers approximate dynamic programming, including value-based methods and policy space methods. Applications and examples drawn from diverse domains. Focus is mathematical, but is supplemented with computational exercises. An analysis prerequisite is suggested but not required; mathematical maturity is necessary.
C. Wu

IDS.145[J] Data Mining: Finding the Models and Predictions that Create Value
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 15.062[J])
(Subject meets with 15.0621)
Prereq: 15.060, 15.075, or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW4-5.30 (E51-315) Recitation: T4 (E62-262)
______
Introduction to data mining, data science, and machine learning for recognizing patterns, developing models and predictive analytics, and making intelligent use of massive amounts of data collected via the internet, e-commerce, electronic banking, medical databases, etc. Topics include logistic regression, association rules, tree-structured classification and regression, cluster analysis, discriminant analysis, and neural network methods. Presents examples of successful applications in credit ratings, fraud detection, marketing, customer relationship management, investments, and synthetic clinical trials. Introduces data-mining software (R and Python). Grading based on homework, cases, and a term project. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking the undergraduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details.
R. Welsch
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.147[J] Statistical Machine Learning and Data Science
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 15.077[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Advanced introduction to theory and application of statistics, data-mining and machine learning using techniques from management science, marketing, finance, consulting, and bioinformatics. Covers bootstrap theory of estimation, testing, nonparametric statistics, analysis of variance, experimental design, categorical data analysis, regression analysis, MCMC, and Bayesian methods. Focuses on data mining, supervised learning, and multivariate analysis. Topics chosen from logistic regression, principal components and dimension reduction; discrimination and classification analysis, trees (CART), partial least squares, nearest neighbors, regularized methods, support vector machines, boosting and bagging, clustering, independent component analysis, and nonparametric regression. Uses statistics software R, Python, and MATLAB. Grading based on homework, cases, and a term project.
R. Welsch

IDS.160[J] Mathematical Statistics: a Non-Asymptotic Approach
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 9.521[J], 18.656[J])
Prereq: (6.7700, 18.06, and 18.6501) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (46-3002)
______
Introduces students to modern non-asymptotic statistical analysis. Topics include high-dimensional models, nonparametric regression, covariance estimation, principal component analysis, oracle inequalities, prediction and margin analysis for classification. Develops a rigorous probabilistic toolkit, including tail bounds and a basic theory of empirical processes
S. Rakhlin, P. Rigollet
No required or recommended textbooks

IDS.190 Doctoral Seminar in Statistics and Data Science
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Interdisciplinary seminar explores diverse topics in statistics and data science. Restricted to students in the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Statistics.
Staff

IDS.250[J] The Theory of Operations Management
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 1.271[J], 15.764[J])
Prereq: (6.7210 and 6.7700) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (E51-151)
______
Provides mathematical foundations underlying the theory of operations management. Covers both classic and state-of-the-art results in various application domains, including inventory management, supply chain management and logistics, behavioral operations, healthcare management, service industries, pricing and revenue management, and auctions. Studies a wide range of mathematical and analytical techniques, such as dynamic programming, stochastic orders, principal-agent models and contract design, behavioral and experimental economics, algorithms and approximations, data-driven and learning models, and mechanism design. Also provides practical experience in how to apply the theoretical models to solve OM problems in business settings. Specific topics vary from year to year.
D. Freund
No textbook information available

IDS.305[J] Business and Operations Analytics
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
(Same subject as 1.275[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: T10-1 (66-168)
______
Provides instruction on identifying, evaluating, and capturing business analytics opportunities that create value. Also provides basic instruction in analytics methods and case study analysis of organizations that successfully deployed these techniques.
D. Simchi-Levi
No required or recommended textbooks

IDS.332 System Design and Management for a Changing World: Combined
______

Graduate (Fall)
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
(Offered under: 1.146, 16.861, EM.422, IDS.332)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for EM.423, IDS.333
______
Practical-oriented subject that builds upon theory and methods and culminates in extended application. Covers methods to identify, value, and implement flexibility in design (real options). Topics include definition of uncertainties, simulation of performance for scenarios, screening models to identify desirable flexibility, decision analysis, and multidimensional economic evaluation. Students demonstrate proficiency through an extended application to a system design of their choice. Complements research or thesis projects. Class is "flipped" to maximize student engagement and learning. Meets with IDS.333 in the first half of term. Enrollment limited.
R. de Neufville

IDS.333[J] System Design and Management for a Changing World: Tools
______

Graduate (Fall); first half of term
(Same subject as EM.423[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
Credit cannot also be received for 1.146, 16.861, EM.422, IDS.332
______
Focuses on design choices and decisions under uncertainty. Topics include identification and description of uncertainties using probability distributions; the calculation of commensurate measures of value, such as expected net present values; Monte Carlo simulation and risk analysis; and the use of decision analysis to explore alternative strategies and identify optimal initial choices. Presents applied analysis of practical examples from a variety of engineering systems using spreadsheet and decision analysis software. Class is "flipped" to maximize student engagement and learning. Meets with IDS.332 first half of term.
R. de Neufville

IDS.334[J] System Design and Management for a Changing World: Projects
(IDS.330)
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
(Same subject as EM.424[J])
Prereq: IDS.333 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-3
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR10.30-12 (1-390)
______
Focuses on implementation of flexibility (real options) in the design of products, start-ups, ongoing management of operations, or policy plans. Applies the methods presented in IDS.333: recognition of uncertainty, identification of best opportunities for flexibility, and valuation of these options and their effective implementation. Students work on their own project concept, for which they develop a dynamic business plan for design, deployment, and most beneficial implementation of their system over time. Useful complement to thesis or research projects. Class is "flipped" to maximize student engagement and learning. Subject meets in second half of term in the fall and first half of term in the spring.
Fall: R. de Neufville
Spring: R. de Neufville
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.336[J] Systems Architecting Applied to Enterprises
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 16.855[J], EM.429[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T EVE (4-7 PM) (1-390)
______
Focuses on understanding, designing and transforming sociotechnical enterprises using systems principles and practices. Includes discussions and reading on enterprise theory, systems architecting, transformation challenges and case studies of evolving enterprises. Covers frameworks and methods for ecosystem analysis, stakeholder analysis, design thinking, systems architecture and evaluation, and human-centered enterprise design strategies. Students engage in interactive breakout sessions during class and participate in a selected small team project to design a future architecture for a real-world enterprise. Selected projects are based on student interests in enterprises such as small, medium, or large companies, government agencies, academic units, start-ups, and nonprofit organizations.
D. Rhodes
No required or recommended textbooks

IDS.337[J] Aerospace Biomedical and Life Support Engineering
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 16.423[J], HST.515[J])
Prereq: 16.06, 16.400, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Fundamentals of human performance, physiology, and life support impacting engineering design and aerospace systems. Topics include effects of gravity on the muscle, skeletal, cardiovascular, and neurovestibular systems; human/pilot modeling and human/machine design; flight experiment design; and life support engineering for extravehicular activity (EVA). Case studies of current research are presented. Assignments include a design project, quantitative homework sets, and quizzes emphasizing engineering and systems aspects.
L. Petersen

IDS.338[J] Multidisciplinary Design Optimization
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 16.888[J], EM.428[J])
Prereq: 18.085 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
______
Systems modeling for design and optimization. Selection of design variables, objective functions and constraints. Overview of principles, methods and tools in multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO). Subsystem identification, development and interface design. Design of experiments (DOE). Review of linear (LP) and non-linear (NLP) constrained optimization formulations. Scalar versus vector optimization problems. Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions of optimality, Lagrange multipliers, adjoints, gradient search methods, sensitivity analysis, geometric programming, simulated annealing, genetic algorithms and particle swarm optimization. Constraint satisfaction problems and isoperformance. Non-dominance and Pareto frontiers. Surrogate models and multifidelity optimization strategies. System design for value. Students execute a term project in small teams related to their area of interest. 
O. de Weck

IDS.339[J] Space Systems Engineering
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 16.89[J])
Prereq: 16.842, 16.851, or permission of instructor
Units: 4-2-6
Lecture: TR1.30-3 (33-218) Lab: TBA
______
Focus on developing space system architectures. Applies subsystem knowledge gained in 16.851 to examine interactions between subsystems in the context of a space system design. Principles and processes of systems engineering including developing space architectures, developing and writing requirements, and concepts of risk are explored and applied to the project. Subject develops, documents, and presents a conceptual design of a space system including a preliminary spacecraft design.
G. Lordos, E.F. Crawley
No textbook information available

IDS.340[J] System Safety Concepts
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 16.863[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers important concepts and techniques in designing and operating safety-critical systems. Topics include the nature of risk, formal accident and human error models, causes of accidents, fundamental concepts of system safety engineering, system and software hazard analysis, designing for safety, fault tolerance, safety issues in the design of human-machine interaction, verification of safety, creating a safety culture, and management of safety-critical projects. Includes a class project involving the high-level system design and analysis of a safety-critical system. Enrollment may be limited.
N. Leveson

IDS.341[J] Concepts in the Engineering of Software
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 16.355[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: F9-12 (33-422)
______
Reading and discussion on issues in the engineering of software systems and software development project design. Includes the present state of software engineering, what has been tried in the past, what worked, what did not, and why. Topics may differ in each offering, but are chosen from the software process and life cycle; requirements and specifications; design principles; testing, formal analysis, and reviews; quality management and assessment; product and process metrics; COTS and reuse; evolution and maintenance; team organization and people management; and software engineering aspects of programming languages.  Enrollment may be limited.
N. G. Leveson
No required or recommended textbooks

IDS.350[J] Cybersecurity
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 17.448[J], MAS.660[J])
(Subject meets with 17.447[J], IDS.050[J], MAS.460[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T1-3 (E60-112)
______
Focuses on the complexity of cybersecurity in a changing world. Examines national and international aspects of overall cyber ecology. Explores sources and consequences of cyber threats and different types of damages. Considers impacts for and of various aspects of cybersecurity in diverse geostrategic, political, business and economic contexts. Addresses national and international policy responses as well as formal and informal strategies and mechanisms for responding to cyber insecurity and enhancing conditions of cybersecurity. Students taking graduate version expected to pursue subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
N. Choucri, S. Madnick, A. Pentland
No textbook information available

IDS.405 Critical Internet Studies
(CMS.867)
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with 21W.791[J], CMS.614[J], WGS.280[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W2-5 (56-169)
______
Focuses on the power dynamics in internet-related technologies (including social networking platforms, surveillance technology, entertainment technologies, and emerging media forms). Theories and readings focus on the cultural, social, economic, and political aspects of internet use and design, with a special attention to gender and race. Topics include: online communication and communities, algorithms and search engines, activism and online resistance, surveillance and privacy, content moderation and platform governance, and the spread of dis- and misinformation. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Students taking the graduate version complete additional readings and assignments.
T.L. Taylor
No required or recommended textbooks

IDS.410 Modeling and Assessment for Policy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Explores how scientific information and quantitative models can be used to inform policy decision-making. Develops an understanding of quantitative modeling techniques and their role in the policy process through case studies and interactive activities. Addresses issues such as analysis of scientific assessment processes, uses of integrated assessment models, public perception of quantitative information, methods for dealing with uncertainties, and design choices in building policy-relevant models.
N. E. Selin

IDS.411 Concepts and Research in Technology and Policy
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Core integrative subject, with substantive participation from a series of guest faculty lecturers, examines key technology-policy concepts. Explores alternative framings of roles of technology in policy, emphasizing the implications of these alternatives upon problem-solving in the area. Exercises prepare students to apply these concepts in the framing of their thesis research. Preference to first-year students in the Technology and Policy Program.
F. Field
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.412[J] Science, Technology, and Public Policy
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 17.310[J], STS.482[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 17.309, IDS.055, STS.082
______
Analysis of issues at the intersection of science, technology, public policy, and business. Cases drawn from antitrust and intellectual property rights; health and environmental policy; defense procurement and strategy; strategic trade and industrial policy; and R&D funding. Structured around theories of political economy, modified to take account of integration of uncertain technical information into public and private decision-making. Meets with 17.309 when offered concurrently.
N. Selin

IDS.435[J] Law, Technology, and Public Policy
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 11.422[J], 15.655[J])
(Subject meets with 11.122[J], IDS.066[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines how law, economics, and technological change shape public policy, and how law can sway technological change; how the legal system responds to environmental, safety, energy, social, and ethical problems; how law and markets interact to influence technological development; and how law can affect wealth distribution, employment, and social justice. Covers energy/climate change; genetic engineering; telecommunications and the role of misinformation; industrial automation; effect of regulation on technological innovation; impacts of antitrust law on innovation and equity; pharmaceuticals; nanotechnology; cost/benefit analysis as a decision tool; public participation in governmental decisions affecting science and technology; corporate influence on technology and welfare; and law and economics as competing paradigms to encourage sustainability. Students taking graduate version explore subject in greater depth.
N. Ashford, C. Caldart

IDS.436[J] Technology, Law, and the Working Environment
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 10.805[J])
(Subject meets with 1.802[J], 1.812[J], 11.022[J], 11.631[J], IDS.061[J], IDS.541[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Addresses relationship between technology-related problems and the law applicable to work environment. National Labor Relations Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act. Toxic Substances Control Act, state worker's compensation, and suits by workers in the courts discussed. Problems related to occupational health and safety, collective bargaining as a mechanism for altering technology in the workplace, job alienation, productivity, and the organization of work addressed. Prior courses or experience in the environmental, public health, or law-related areas.
Staff

IDS.437[J] Technology, Globalization, and Sustainable Development
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.813[J], 11.466[J], 15.657[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Investigates sustainable development, taking a broad view to include not only a healthy economic base, but also a sound environment, stable and rewarding employment, adequate purchasing power and earning capacity, distributional equity, national self-reliance, and maintenance of cultural integrity. Explores national, multinational, and international political and legal mechanisms to further sustainable development through transformation of the industrial state. Addresses the importance of technological innovation and the financial crisis of 2008 and the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and inflation, as well as governmental interventions to reduce inequality.
N. Ashford

IDS.448 Professional Development: Policy Hackathon
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
______
Bridges knowledge to action for student organizers of the MIT Policy Hackathon. Students work with stakeholders to define needs for information and analysis, identify appropriate data sets, and craft problem statements that aim to provide actionable outputs for decision-making. Builds competence in management and organization, networking, presentation, and fundraising. Restricted to the student organizers for the MIT Policy Hackathon.
F. Field, N. E. Selin

IDS.449 Technology Policy Internship and Professional Perspectives Seminar
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: IDS.411 or permission of instructor
Units: 1-1-1 [P/D/F]
Lecture: F12-2 (E25-117)
______
Seminar examines what technology policy is in practice. Considers the question of "Who achieves what, when, how, and why?" regarding technology and policy. Students who completed summer internships present and dissect their experiences with special reference to specific cases in which they participated. Develops perspectives on practice in the field through sessions with alumni, other practitioners, and development professionals within MIT.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

IDS.521[J] Energy Systems for Climate Change Mitigation
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.670[J], 10.621[J])
(Subject meets with 1.067[J], 10.421[J], IDS.065[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Reviews the contributions of energy systems to global greenhouse gas emissions, and the levers for reducing those emissions. Lectures and projects focus on evaluating energy systems against climate policy goals, using performance metrics such as cost, carbon intensity, and others. Student projects explore pathways for realizing emissions reduction scenarios. Projects address the climate change mitigation potential of energy technologies (hardware and software), technological and behavioral change trajectories, and technology and policy portfolios. Background in energy systems strongly recommended. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments and explore the subject in greater depth.
J. Trancik

IDS.522 Mapping and Evaluating New Energy Technologies
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Project-based seminar reviews recent developments in energy conversion and storage technologies. Merits of alternative technologies are debated based on their environmental performance and cost, and their potential improvement and scalability. Project teams develop qualitative insights, quantitative models, and interactive visualization tools to inform the future development of technologies. Models may probe how the impact of a technology depends on assumptions about future advancements in performance, and how quantitative performance targets can be estimated to inform investment and design decisions. Other projects may develop models to inform rational investments in a portfolio of technologies based on economic and environmental performance and scalability constraints. Both information-based (e.g., software and codified practices) and physical technologies will be discussed.
J. Trancik

IDS.524[J] People and the Planet: Environmental Histories and Engineering
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 11.204[J])
(Subject meets with 11.004[J], STS.033[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Explores historical and cultural aspects of complex environmental problems and engineering approaches to sustainable solutions. Introduces quantitative analyses and methodological tools to understand environmental issues that have human and natural components. Demonstrates concepts through a series of historical and cultural analyses of environmental challenges and their engineering responses. Builds writing, quantitative modeling, and analytical skills in assessing environmental systems problems and developing engineering solutions. Through environmental data gathering and analysis, students engage with the challenges and possibilities of engineering in complex, interacting systems, and investigate plausible, symbiotic, systems-oriented solutions. Students taking graduate version complete additional analysis of reading assignments and a more in-depth and longer final paper.
Staff

IDS.526[J] Sustainability Science and Engineering
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 12.845[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Introduces and develops core ideas and concepts in the field of sustainability science and engineering from an engineering systems perspective. Takes an interdisciplinary approach to discuss case studies of sustainability systems research. Exposes students to techniques for sustainability research across engineering, natural and social science disciplines. Term projects focus on applying techniques.
Staff

IDS.540[J] Environmental Law, Policy, and Economics: Pollution Prevention and Control
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.811[J], 11.630[J], 15.663[J])
(Subject meets with 1.801[J], 11.021[J], 17.393[J], IDS.060[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (E51-057) +final
______
Analyzes federal and state regulation of air and water pollution, hazardous waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and production/use of toxic chemicals. Analyzes pollution/climate change as economic problems and failure of markets. Explores the role of science and economics in legal decisions. Emphasizes use of legal mechanisms and alternative approaches (i.e., economic incentives, voluntary approaches) to control pollution and encourage chemical accident and pollution prevention. Focuses on major federal legislation, underlying administrative system, and common law in analyzing environmental policy, economic consequences, and role of the courts. Discusses classical pollutants and toxic industrial chemicals, greenhouse gas emissions, community right-to-know, and environmental justice. Develops basic legal skills: how to read/understand cases, regulations, and statutes. Students taking graduate version explore the subject in greater depth.
N. Ashford, C. Caldart
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.541[J] Regulation of Chemicals, Radiation, and Biotechnology
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.812[J], 11.631[J])
(Subject meets with 1.802[J], 10.805[J], 11.022[J], IDS.061[J], IDS.436[J])
Prereq: IDS.540 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on policy design and evaluation in the regulation of hazardous substances and processes. Includes risk assessment, industrial chemicals, pesticides, food contaminants, pharmaceuticals, radiation and radioactive wastes, product safety, workplace hazards, indoor air pollution, biotechnology, victims' compensation, and administrative law. Health and economic consequences of regulation, as well as its potential to spur technological change, are discussed for each regulator regime. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth.
Staff

IDS.620[J] Principles and Practice of Drug Development
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 10.547[J], 15.136[J], HST.920[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Description and critical assessment of the major issues and stages of developing a pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical. Drug discovery, preclinical development, clinical investigation, manufacturing and regulatory issues considered for small and large molecules. Economic and financial considerations of the drug development process. Multidisciplinary perspective from faculty in clinical; life; and management sciences; as well as industry guests.
S. Finkelstein

IDS.670[J] Planning and Design of Airport Systems
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.231[J], 16.781[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on current practice, developing trends, and advanced concepts in airport design and planning. Considers economic, environmental, and other trade-offs related to airport location, as well as the impacts of emphasizing "green" measures. Includes an analysis of the effect of airline operations on airports. Topics include demand prediction, determination of airfield capacity, and estimation of levels of congestion; terminal design; the role of airports in the aviation and transportation system; access problems; optimal configuration of air transport networks and implications for airport development; and economics, financing, and institutional aspects. Special attention to international practice and developments.
R. de Neufville, H. Balakrishnan, A.R. Odoni

IDS.675[J] Transportation: Foundations and Methods
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.200[J], 11.544[J])
(Subject meets with 1.041[J], IDS.075[J])
Prereq: (1.010A and (1.00 or 1.000)) or permission of instructor
Units: 3-1-8
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Covers core analytical and numerical methods for modeling, planning, operations, and control of transportation systems. Traffic flow theory, vehicle dynamics and behavior, numerical integration and simulation, graphical analysis. Properties of delays, queueing theory. Resource allocation, optimization models, linear and integer programming. Autonomy in transport, Markov Decision Processes, reinforcement learning, deep learning. Applications drawn broadly from land, air, and sea transport; private and public sector; transport of passengers and goods; futuristic, modern, and historical. Hands-on computational labs. Linear algebra background is encouraged but not required. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. Wu

IDS.700[J] Applied Probability and Stochastic Models
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.203[J], 15.073[J])
Prereq: 6.3700 or 18.600
Units: 3-0-9
______
A vigorous use of probabilistic models to approximate real-life situations in Finance, Operations Management, Economics, and Operations Research. Emphasis on how to develop a suitable probabilistic model in a given setting and, merging probability with statistics, and on how to validate a proposed model against empirical evidence. Extensive treatment of Monte Carlo simulation for modeling random processes when analytic solutions are unattainable.
Staff

IDS.730[J] Logistics Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.260[J], 15.770[J], SCM.260[J])
(Subject meets with SCM.271)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to supply chain management from both analytical and practical perspectives. Taking a unified approach, students develop a framework for making intelligent decisions within the supply chain. Covers key logistics functions, such as demand planning, procurement, inventory theory and control, transportation planning and execution, reverse logistics, and flexible contracting. Explores concepts such as postponement, portfolio management, and dual sourcing. Emphasizes skills necessary to recognize and manage risk, analyze various tradeoffs, and model logistics systems. SCM.271 meets with SCM.260, but has fewer assignments.
Angela Acocella, Chris Caplice

IDS.735[J] Supply Chain Analytics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 1.273[J], 15.762[J])
Prereq: 15.761 or SCM.260
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focuses on effective supply chain strategies for companies that operate globally, with emphasis on how to plan and integrate supply chain components into a coordinated system. Students are exposed to concepts and models important in supply chain planning with emphasis on key tradeoffs and phenomena. Introduces and utilizes key tactics such as risk pooling and inventory placement, integrated planning and collaboration, and information sharing. Lectures, computer exercises, and case discussions introduce various models and methods for supply chain analysis and optimization.
Staff

IDS.736[J] Supply Chain: Capacity Analytics
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 1.274[J], 15.763[J])
Prereq: 15.761, 15.778, or SCM.260
Units: 2-0-4
______
Focuses on decision making for system design, as it arises in manufacturing systems and supply chains. Students exposed to frameworks and models for structuring the key issues and trade-offs. Presents and discusses new opportunities, issues and concepts introduced by the internet and e-commerce. Introduces various models, methods and software tools for logistics network design, capacity planning and flexibility, make-buy, and integration with product development. Industry applications and cases illustrate concepts and challenges. Recommended for Operations Management concentrators. Second half-term subject.
Staff

IDS.900 Doctoral Seminar in Social and Engineering Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Introduces doctoral students to IDSS research areas. Preference to first-year students in SES.
Jadbabaie, A., Abadie, A.

IDS.910 Leadership Development
______

Graduate (Fall); partial term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-1-1 [P/D/F]
______
Seminar environment created to develop leadership capabilities, and to take advantage of leadership opportunities. An initial Outward Bound experience builds trust, teamwork and communications. Readings and assignments emphasize the characteristics of desired leadership skills. Global leaders participate in the Leadership Lunch series to share their experiences and recommendations. Discussions explore leadership development. Culminates in a personal leadership plan. Restricted to entering students in the Technology and Policy program or instructor permission.
Staff

IDS.950 Independent Study in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of IDSS Academic Office
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For graduate students in IDSS. Individual study in data, systems, and society. Intended to expose student to expert-level domain material. Supervised by a member of MIT's teaching staff.
Fall: E. Milnes
IAP: E. Milnes
Spring: E. Milnes
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.951 Independent Study in Technology and Policy
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of TPP Education Office
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For graduate students in TPP. Individual study in technology and policy. Intended to expose student to expert-level domain material. Supervised by a member of MIT's teaching staff.
Fall: F. Field
IAP: F. Field
Spring: F. Field
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.955 Practical Experience in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For IDSS doctoral students participating in off-campus practical experiences in data, systems, and society. Before registering for this subject students must have a training offer from a company or organization, must identify a research advisor, and must receive prior approval from the IDSS Academic Office. Upon completion of the experience students must submit a letter from the company or organization describing the goals accomplished and a substantive final report to the MIT advisor.
Fall: E. Milnes
IAP: E. Milnes
Spring: E. Milnes
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.956 Practical Experience in Technology and Policy
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For TPP students participating in off-campus internship experiences in technology and policy. Before registering for this subject, students must have an employment offer from a company or organization, must identify a research advisor, and must receive prior approval from the TPP Education Office. Upon completion of the internship, student must submit a letter from the employer describing the work accomplished, along with a substantive final report from the student approved by the MIT advisor.
Fall: F. Field
IAP: F. Field
Spring: F. Field
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.957 Practical Experience in Data Analysis
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For doctoral students in the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Statistics participating in off-campus practical experiences in data analysis in programs where practical experience is accepted. Before registering for this subject students must have a training offer from a company or organization, must identify a research advisor, and must receive prior approval from the IDSS Academic Office. Upon completion of the experience, students must submit a letter from the company or organization describing the goals accomplished and a substantive final report to the MIT advisor discussing how data science and statistical tools were used during their experience and any interesting problems, applications, or results.
Fall: E. Milnes
IAP: E. Milnes
Spring: E. Milnes
Summer: E. Milnes
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.960 Teaching in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For Teaching Trainees in IDSS. Laboratory, tutorial, or classroom teaching under supervision of a faculty member. Restricted to doctoral students in IDSS who have completed requisite modules and training.
Fall: E. Milnes
IAP: E. Milnes
Spring: E. Milnes
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.961 Teaching in Technology and Policy
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For Teaching Assistants in TPP, in cases where teaching assignment is approved for academic credit. Laboratory, tutorial, or classroom teaching under supervision of a faculty member. Credit for this subject may not be used for any degree granted by IDSS.
Fall: F. Field
IAP: F. Field
Spring: F. Field
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.970 Pre-Thesis Research in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
For doctoral students defining their dissertation topic in IDSS. Covers all activities leading to an acceptable thesis proposal and approved for academic credit by the student's academic program. Includes identifying a research advisor and program planning. Culminates in a thesis proposal, approved by a complete doctoral committee, with working title, abstract, problem summary, significance, literature review, approach, timeline, and references. Academic advisor monitors student progress until a research advisor is identified. Restricted to doctoral students in IDSS.
Fall: E. Milnes
IAP: E. Milnes
Spring: E. Milnes
No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

IDS.971 Research in Technology and Policy
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For research assistants in TPP when assigned research is not used for thesis, but is approved for academic credit. Credit for this subject may not be used for any degree granted by IDSS.
Fall: F. Field
Spring: F. Field
No required or recommended textbooks

IDS.C35[J] Interactive Data Visualization and Society
(New)
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.C35[J], 11.C35[J], CMS.C35[J])
(Subject meets with 6.C85[J], 11.C85[J], IDS.C85[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-4-8
Credit cannot also be received for 6.8530, 11.154, 11.454
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (45-230) Lab: R3 (45-102)
______
Covers the design, ethical, and technical skills for creating effective visualizations. Short assignments build familiarity with the data analysis and visualization design process. Weekly lab sessions present coding and technical skills. A final project provides experience working with real-world big data, provided by external partners, in order to expose and communicate insights about societal issues. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited. Enrollment limited.
C. D'Ignazio, C. Lee, A. Satyanarayan
No textbook information available

IDS.C57[J] Optimization Methods
(New)
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 6.C57[J], 15.C57[J])
(Subject meets with 6.C571[J], 15.C571[J])
Prereq: 18.C06 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
______
Introduction to the methods and applications of optimization. Topics include linear optimization, duality, non-linear optimization, integer optimization, and optimization under uncertainty. Instruction provided in modeling techniques to address problems arising in practice, mathematical theory to understand the structure of optimization problems, computational algorithms to solve complex optimization problems, and practical applications. Covers several examples and in-depth case studies based on real-world data to showcase impactful applications of optimization across management and engineering. Computational exercises based on the Julia-based programming language JuMP. Includes a term project. Basic competency in computational programming and linear algebra recommended. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. This subject was previously listed as 15.093/6.7200/IDS.200.
A. Jacquillat, H. Lu

IDS.C85[J] Interactive Data Visualization and Society
(New)
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.C85[J], 11.C85[J])
(Subject meets with 6.C35[J], 11.C35[J], CMS.C35[J], IDS.C35[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-1-8
Credit cannot also be received for 6.8530, 11.154, 11.454
Lecture: MW1-2.30 (45-230) Lab: R4 (32-082)
______
Covers the design, ethical, and technical skills for creating effective visualizations. Short assignments build familiarity with the data analysis and visualization design process. Students participate in hour-long studio reading sessions. A final project provides experience working with real-world big data, provided by external partners, in order to expose and communicate insights about societal issues. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
C. D'Ignazio, C. Lee, A. Satyanarayan
No textbook information available

IDS.S00 Special Undergraduate Subject in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Opportunity for study of topics in Data, Systems, and Society not otherwise included in the curriculum. Offerings initiated by faculty on an ad hoc basis subject to IDSS approval.
Staff

IDS.S01 Special Undergraduate Subject in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Opportunity for study of topics in Data, Systems, and Society not otherwise included in the curriculum at MIT. Offerings are initiated by faculty on an ad-hoc basis subject to IDSS approval.
Consult IDSS Academic Office

IDS.S10 Special Undergraduate Subject in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Opportunity for study of topics in Data, Systems, and Society not otherwise included in the curriculum at MIT. Offerings are initiated by faculty on an ad-hoc basis subject to IDSS approval.
Staff

IDS.S11 Special Undergraduate Subject in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Opportunity for study of topics in Data, Systems, and Society not otherwise included in the curriculum. Offerings initiated by faculty on an ad hoc basis subject to IDSS approval.
Staff

IDS.S20 Special Graduate Subject in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for study of advanced topics in Data, Systems, and Society not otherwise included in the curriculum at MIT. Offerings are initiated by faculty on an ad-hoc basis subject to IDSS approval.
C. Ortiz, E. Spero, J. Cohen
No textbook information available

IDS.S21 Special Graduate Subject in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Opportunity for study of advanced topics in Data, Systems, and Society not otherwise included in the curriculum at MIT. Offerings are initiated by faculty on an ad-hoc basis subject to IDSS approval.
Staff

IDS.S22 Special Graduate Subject in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Opportunity for study of advanced topics in Data, Systems, and Society not otherwise included in the curriculum at MIT. Offerings are initiated by faculty on an ad-hoc basis subject to IDSS approval.
Staff

IDS.S23 Special Graduate Subject in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Opportunity for study of advanced topics in Data, Systems, and Society not otherwise included in the curriculum at MIT. Offerings are initiated by faculty on an ad-hoc basis subject to IDSS approval.
Staff

IDS.S24 Special Graduate Subject in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Opportunity for study of advanced topics in Data, Systems, and Society not otherwise included in the curriculum at MIT. Offerings are initiated by faculty on an ad-hoc basis subject to IDSS approval.
Staff

IDS.S30 Special Graduate Subject in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Graduate (Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Opportunity for study of advanced topics in Data, Systems, and Society not otherwise included in the curriculum. Offerings are initiated by faculty on an ad-hoc basis subject to IDSS approval.
Staff

IDS.S31 Special Graduate Subject in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Opportunity for individual or group study of advanced topics in Data, Systems, and Society not otherwise included in the curriculum at MIT. Offerings are initiated by faculty on an ad-hoc basis subject to IDSS approval.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No textbook information available

IDS.S32 Special Graduate Subject in Data, Systems, and Society
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Opportunity for individual or group study of advanced topics in Data, Systems, and Society not otherwise included in the curriculum at MIT. Offerings are initiated by faculty on an ad-hoc basis subject to IDSS approval.
Staff

IDS.THG Graduate Thesis
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: IDS.970 or permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research, leading to the writing of an SM or PhD thesis to be arranged by the student with a member of the IDSS faculty. A minimum of 24 thesis units are required for the SM degree. Doctoral students must first complete IDS.970.
Fall: E. Milnes
IAP: E. Milnes
Spring: E. Milnes
Textbooks arranged individually

IDS.UR Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in Data, Systems, and Society.
Fall: E. Milnes
IAP: E. Milnes
Spring: E. Milnes
Textbooks arranged individually

IDS.URG Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in Data, Systems, and Society.
Fall: E. Milnes
IAP: E. Milnes
Spring: E. Milnes
Textbooks arranged individually


left arrow | IDS.00-IDS.URG | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Media Arts and Sciences
IAP/Spring 2025

MAS Home    IAP only    Evaluations (Certificates Required)
left arrow | MAS.-MAS.999 plus UROP | right arrow

Undergraduate Subjects

MAS.131 Computational Camera and Photography
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers the complete pipeline of computational cameras that attempt to digitally capture the essence of visual information by exploiting the synergistic combination of task-specific optics, illumination, sensors, and processing. Students discuss and use thermal, multi-spectral, high-speed and 3-D range-sensing cameras, as well as camera arrays. Presents opportunities in scientific and medical imaging, and mobile phone-based photography. Also covers cameras for human computer interaction (HCI) and sensors that mimic animal eyes. Intended for students with interest in algorithmic and technical aspects of imaging and photography. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. Raskar

MAS.132 Mathematical Methods in Imaging
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-7
______
Surveys the landscape of imaging techniques and develops skills for conducting imaging research. Reviews technical and social aspects of the evolving camera culture and considers its role in transforming social interactions, reshaping businesses, and influencing communities worldwide. Explores innovative protocols for sharing and consumption of visual media, as well as novel hardware and software tools based on advanced lenses, digital illumination, modern sensors, and emerging image-analysis algorithms. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. Raskar

MAS.240 Black Mobility and Safety: From Birth to Walking in the US
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
One of two related subjects which explore physical, mental, socio-economic, political, and other issues related to mobility and safety for Black Americans through words, images, and sounds that reference social science and anti-racist research. Topics include birth, breathing, sleeping, eating, and walking while Black. Weekly meetings include private group discussions on assigned materials, public lectures from guests ranging from designers and urban planners to activists and social scientists, and private individual presentations for the group. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 10.
Staff

MAS.241 Black Mobility and Safety: From Loving to Learning in the US
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
One of two related subjects which explore physical, mental, socio-economic, political, and other issues related to mobility and safety for Black Americans through words, images, and sounds that reference social science and anti-racist research. Topics include learning, voting, driving, working, and loving while Black. Weekly meetings include private group discussions on assigned materials, public lectures from guests ranging from designers and urban planners to activists and social scientists, and private individual presentations for the group. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 10.
E. Ijeoma

MAS.342 Safeguarding the Future
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Subject meets with MAS.842)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W10-1 (E15-341) +final
______
Leading experts guide discussions of how to safeguard the world against the greatest threats to our future. Topics range from the overt perils of pandemic and nuclear proliferation to the underlying coordination failures responsible for climate change, and from technological stagnation to transformative AI. Draws on the history of invention and science communication to explore which technologies are most likely to shape the future and how inventors and developers can influence outcomes, with the goal of determining how to accomplish as much good as possible. Emphasizes science writing and communication. Students write three op-eds on key issues and participate in a group project aiming to coordinate effective action. Students taking the graduate version complete additional work.
K. Esvelt, M. Specter
No textbook information available

MAS.453[J] Mobile and Sensor Computing
______

Undergrad (Spring)
(Same subject as 6.1820[J])
Prereq: 6.1800 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (24-121)
______
Focuses on "Internet of Things" (IoT) systems and technologies, sensing, computing, and communication. Explores fundamental design and implementation issues in the engineering of mobile and sensor computing systems. Topics include battery-free sensors, seeing through wall, robotic sensors, vital sign sensors (breathing, heartbeats, emotions), sensing in cars and autonomous vehicles, subsea IoT, sensor security, positioning technologies (including GPS and indoor WiFi), inertial sensing (accelerometers, gyroscopes, inertial measurement units, dead-reckoning), embedded and distributed system architectures, sensing with radio signals, sensing with microphones and cameras, wireless sensor networks, embedded and distributed system architectures, mobile libraries and APIs to sensors, and application case studies. Includes readings from research literature, as well as laboratory assignments and a significant term project.
F. Adib
No textbook information available

MAS.460[J] Cybersecurity
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 17.447[J], IDS.050[J])
(Subject meets with 17.448[J], IDS.350[J], MAS.660[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T1-3 (E60-112) Recitation: T3 (E51-390) or R1 (1-136)
______
Focuses on the complexity of cybersecurity in a changing world. Examines national and international aspects of overall cyber ecology. Explores sources and consequences of cyber threats and different types of damages. Considers impacts for and of various aspects of cybersecurity in diverse geostrategic, political, business and economic contexts. Addresses national and international policy responses as well as formal and informal strategies and mechanisms for responding to cyber insecurity and enhancing conditions of cybersecurity. Students taking graduate version expected to pursue subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
N. Choucri, S. Madnick, A. Pentland
No textbook information available

MAS.490 Independent Study in Media Arts and Sciences
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Special projects on group or individual basis. Registration subject to prior arrangement of subject matter and supervision by staff.
Fall: S. Shubart
Spring: S. Shubart
No required or recommended textbooks

MAS.491 Independent Study in Media Arts and Sciences
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Special projects on group or individual basis. Registration subject to prior arrangement of subject matter and supervision by staff.
Fall: S. Shubart
Spring: S. Shubart
No required or recommended textbooks

MAS.UR Undergraduate Research in Media Arts and Sciences
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Individual or group study, research, or laboratory investigations under faculty supervision, including individual participation in an ongoing research project. See UROP coordinator for further information
Fall: M. El-Kouedi
IAP: M. El-Kouedi
Spring: M. El-Kouedi
Textbooks arranged individually

MAS.URG Undergraduate Research in Media Arts and Sciences
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Individual or group study, research, or laboratory investigations under faculty supervision, including individual participation in an ongoing research project. See UROP coordinator for further information.
Fall: M. El-Kouedi
IAP: M. El-Kouedi
Spring: M. El-Kouedi
Textbooks arranged individually

Graduate Subjects

MAS.531 Computational Camera and Photography
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers the complete pipeline of computational cameras that attempt to digitally capture the essence of visual information by exploiting the synergistic combination of task-specific optics, illumination, sensors, and processing. Students discuss and use thermal, multi-spectral, high-speed and 3-D range-sensing cameras, as well as camera arrays. Presents opportunities in scientific and medical imaging, and mobile phone-based photography. Also covers cameras for human computer interaction (HCI) and sensors that mimic animal eyes. Intended for students with interest in algorithmic and technical aspects of imaging and photography. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. Raskar

MAS.532 Mathematical Methods in Imaging
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-7
______
Surveys the landscape of imaging techniques and develops skills for conducting imaging research. Reviews technical and social aspects of the evolving camera culture and considers its role in transforming social interactions, reshaping businesses, and influencing communities worldwide. Explores innovative protocols for sharing and consumption of visual media, as well as novel hardware and software tools based on advanced lenses, digital illumination, modern sensors, and emerging image-analysis algorithms. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
R. Raskar

MAS.552[J] City Science
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 4.557[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Focuses on innovative propositions for shaping the cities of tomorrow, responding to emerging trends, technologies, and ecological imperatives. Students take part in "what-if?" scenarios to tackle real-world challenges. Through collaborative, project-based learning in small teams, students are mentored by researchers from the City Science group. Projects focus on the application of these ideas to case study cities and may include travel. Invited guests from academia and industry participate. Repeatable for credit with permission of instructor.
K. Larson

MAS.600 Human 2.0
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-9-0
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Covers principles underlying current and future technologies for cognitive, emotional and physical augmentation. Focuses on using anatomical, biomechanical, neuromechanical, biochemical and neurological models of the human body to guide the designs of augmentation technology for persons with either unusual or normal physiologies that wish to extend their cognitive, emotion, social or physical capability to new levels. Topics include robotic exoskeletons and powered orthoses, external limb prostheses, neural implant technology, social-emotional prostheses, and cognitive prostheses. Requires student presentations, critiques of class readings, and a final project including a publication-quality paper. Enrollment limited.
Staff

MAS.630 Advanced Seminar: Affective Computing and Ethics
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-10
______
Instructs students on how to develop artificial intelligence technologies that help people measure and communicate emotion, that respectfully read and that intelligently respond to emotion, and that have internal mechanisms inspired by the useful roles emotions play in humans.  Students will also discuss ethical questions that arise with the use of emotion-AI technologies and how to prevent misuse.  Topics vary from year to year, and may include the interaction of emotion with cognition and perception; the communication of human emotion via face, voice, physiology, and behavior; construction of computers, agents, and robots having skills of emotional intelligence; the role of emotion in decision-making and learning; and ethical uses of affective technologies for education, autism, health, and market research applications. Weekly reading, discussion, and a term project required. Enrollment limited.
R. W. Picard

MAS.660[J] Cybersecurity
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 17.448[J], IDS.350[J])
(Subject meets with 17.447[J], IDS.050[J], MAS.460[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T1-3 (E60-112)
______
Focuses on the complexity of cybersecurity in a changing world. Examines national and international aspects of overall cyber ecology. Explores sources and consequences of cyber threats and different types of damages. Considers impacts for and of various aspects of cybersecurity in diverse geostrategic, political, business and economic contexts. Addresses national and international policy responses as well as formal and informal strategies and mechanisms for responding to cyber insecurity and enhancing conditions of cybersecurity. Students taking graduate version expected to pursue subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
N. Choucri, S. Madnick, A. Pentland
No textbook information available

MAS.664[J] AI for Impact: Solving Societal-Scale Problems
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 15.376[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: R10-12 (E14-633)
______
Examines internal and external entrepreneurship driven by artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, aiming to utilize digital innovations that lead to societal change. Probes a range of AI-generated business models and opportunities, exploring challenges in key sectors such as digital health, sustainability, fintech, and the decentralization of society and commerce by developing sustainable and economically viable solutions. Content includes blockchain, privacy technology, data markets, and AI advancements like Web3 and distributed machine learning. Cases illustrate examples of both successful and failed businesses, as well as difficulties in deploying and diffusing products. Guest speakers provide real-world insights into entrepreneurship. As a final project, students work in teams to develop a business plan executive summary for one of the featured technologies. Enrollment is limited; please see subject website for details.
R. Raskar, P. Agrawal, S. Karaman
No textbook information available

MAS.665[J] Global Ventures
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 15.375[J], EC.731[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Seminar on founding, financing, and building entrepreneurial ventures in developing nations. Challenges students to craft enduring and economically viable solutions to the problems faced by these countries. Cases illustrate examples of both successful and failed businesses, and the difficulties in deploying and diffusing products and services through entrepreneurial action. Explores a range of established and emerging business models, as well as new business opportunities enabled by innovations emerging from MIT labs and beyond. Students develop a business plan executive summary suitable for submission in the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition's Accelerate Contest or MIT IDEAS.
R. Raskar

MAS.690 Independent Study in Media Arts and Sciences
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a faculty member. Registration subject to prior arrangement of subject matter and supervision by staff.
Fall: S. Shubart
Spring: S. Shubart
No required or recommended textbooks

MAS.712 Learning Creative Learning
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9 [P/D/F]
Lecture: W1-3.30 (E15-341)
______
An introduction to the design of technologies, activities, and communities to support young people in creative learning experiences. Through readings, activities, and group discussions, explores the four P's of creative learning: projects, passion, peers, and play. Draws on examples from the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab, including the Scratch programming language and online community. Special focus on how to engage learners from many different backgrounds, with many different interests.
M. Resnick
No textbook information available

MAS.740 Black Mobility and Safety: From Birth to Walking in the US
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
One of two related subjects which explore physical, mental, socio-economic, political, and other issues related to mobility and safety for Black Americans through words, images, and sounds that reference social science and anti-racist research. Topics include birth, breathing, sleeping, eating, and walking while Black. Weekly meetings include private group discussions on assigned materials, public lectures from guests ranging from designers and urban planners to activists and social scientists, and private individual presentations for the group. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 10.
Staff

MAS.741 Black Mobility and Safety: From Loving to Learning in the US
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
One of two related subjects which explore physical, mental, socio-economic, political, and other issues related to mobility and safety for Black Americans through words, images, and sounds that reference social science and anti-racist research. Topics include learning, voting, driving, working, and loving while Black. Weekly meetings include private group discussions on assigned materials, public lectures from guests ranging from designers and urban planners to activists and social scientists, and private individual presentations for the group. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. Ijeoma

MAS.750 Human-Robot Interaction
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-7
______
In-depth exploration of the leading research, design principles, and technical challenges in human-robot interaction (HRI), with an emphasis on socially interactive robots. Topics include mixed-initiative interaction, multi-modal interfaces, face-to-face communication, human-robot teamwork, social learning, aspects of social cognition, and long-term interaction. Applications of these topics to the development of personal robots for health, education, elder care, domestic assistance, and other domains will be surveyed. Requires student presentations, critiques of class readings, student projects, and a final project including a publication quality paper.
C. Breazeal

MAS.771 Autism Theory and Technology
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-10
______
Illuminates current theories about autism together with challenges faced by people on the autism spectrum. Theories in communicating, interacting socially, managing cognitive and affective overload, and achieving independent lifestyles are covered. In parallel, the course presents state-of-the-art technologies being developed for helping improve both theoretical understanding and practical outcomes. Participants expected to meet and interact with people on the autism spectrum. Weekly reading, discussion, and a term project required. Enrollment limited.
Staff

MAS.772 AI for Mental Health
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Provides instruction about behaviors and technologies that promote good mental health and foster resilience to stress and anxiety. Covers AI and smart technologies used in diagnosing, monitoring, and treating mental disorders. Students develop a project of their choosing on the topic, which may include novel technology design and evaluation, human subjects studies, machine learning and data analysis, or other investigations that propose and evaluate new ways to use AI for improving mental health. Enrollment limited; preference to MAS and other MIT students in their final year.
Staff

MAS.790 Independent Study in Media Arts and Sciences
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a faculty member. Registration subject to prior arrangement of subject matter and supervision by staff.
Fall: S. Shubart
Spring: S. Shubart
No required or recommended textbooks

MAS.808 Decoders 2.0: Microfabricated Devices
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Explores various microfabricated device layouts and their impacts on the world through guest lectures. Follows with literature review wherein students compose a summary paper based on representative papers published by the guest lecturers. As a final project, students write and publish on the class website a comprehensive perspective article based on guest lectures. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Limited to 10; preference to Media Arts and Sciences students.
C. Dagdeviren

MAS.809 Decoders 1.9: Introduction to Microfabrication
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-6-3
______
Lectures along with cleanroom lab sessions (in Conformable Decoders' YellowBox) provide exposure to cleanroom processes and microfabrication techniques. Builds practical experience with all five components of the microfabrication techniques, including cleaning, deposition, patterning, etching, and testing. Working in small teams, students complete a midterm project in which they create a video of a microfabrication process demonstrated in the cleanroom. As a final project, students identify a problem that would be tackled with a collective device fabricated in the cleanroom in following semester. Students work throughout the term to develop a class booklet of microfabrication terms. Limited to 10 students, no listeners.
C. Dagdeviren

MAS.810 Decoders 1.8: Project Realization in Cleanroom
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: MAS.809 and permission of instructor
Units: 3-6-3
______
Builds on the combination of knowledge and skills learned in D1.0 and D1.7, respectively to guide students to develop their own mechanically adaptive (i.e., stretchable & flexible) piezoelectric systems. Students write an article about their research findings that will be published on the course website by the end of term. Instructs how to do literature review, to compose clear and concise sentences to describe findings, and to write a perspective article in a collective manner. Limited to 10; no listeners.
Staff

MAS.825[J] Musical Aesthetics and Media Technology
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21M.580[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
______
In-depth exploration of contemporary concepts in music and media. Studies recent music that uses advanced technology, and the artistic motivations and concerns implied by the new media. Practical experience with computer music technology, including MIDI and post-MIDI systems. Special emphasis on the interactive systems for professionals as well as amateurs. Midterm paper and term project required.
T. Machover

MAS.826[J] Projects in Media and Music
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Same subject as 21M.581[J])
Prereq: MAS.825
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: W1-3.30 (E14-333)
______
Current computer music concepts and practice. Project-based work on research or production projects using the Media Lab's computer music, interactive, and media resources. Requires significant studio work and a term project. Projects based on class interests and skills, and may be individually or group-based. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
T. Machover
No textbook information available

MAS.834 Tangible Interfaces
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
______
Explores design issues surrounding tangible user interfaces, a new form of human-computer interaction. Tangible user interfaces seek to realize seamless interfaces between humans, digital information, and the physical environment by giving physical form to digital information and computation, making bits directly manipulable with hands and perceptible at the periphery of human awareness. In the design studio environment, students explore experimental tangible interface designs, theories, applications, and underlying technologies, using concept sketches, posters, physical mockups, and working prototypes.
H. Ishii

MAS.836 Sensor Technologies for Interactive Environments
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: TR3.30-5 (E15-359)
______
A broad introduction to a host of sensor technologies, illustrated by applications drawn from human-computer interfaces and ubiquitous computing. After extensively reviewing electronics for sensor signal conditioning, the lectures cover the principles and operation of a variety of sensor architectures and modalities, including pressure, strain, displacement, proximity, thermal, electric and magnetic field, optical, acoustic, RF, inertial, and bioelectric. Simple sensor processing algorithms and wired and wireless network standards are also discussed. Students are required to complete written assignments, a set of laboratories, and a final project.
M. Feldmeier
No textbook information available

MAS.837 Principles of Electronic Music Interfaces
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the ways in which electronic music is controlled and performed. A solid historical perspective is presented, tracing the development of various families of electronic musical controllers and instruments from their genesis in the late 1800s onwards. Design principles and engineering detail are also given for various current and classic controllers. Evolving issues in the control of computer music for live performance and interactive installations are discussed, including computer mapping of sensor signals and transduced gesture onto sound, music, and other media. Weekly reading assignments are given, and a final project or paper is required.
J. Paradiso

MAS.838[J] Prototyping our Sci-Fi Space Future: Designing & Deploying Projects for Zero Gravity Flights
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 16.88[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-2-8
______
Instruction in project development, prototyping, and deployment readiness for parabolic flights. Admitted student teams are offered flyer and project-deployment slots on the Space Exploration Initiative's spring parabolic flight, upon successful completion of the course in the fall and integration with the flight provider. Covers three main topic areas: 1) rapid prototyping and engineering skills to prepare projects for operation in microgravity; 2) logistics, training, and safety pre-approval steps to meet flight readiness requirements and pass a Technical Readiness Review (TRR); and 3) creative and technical lenses for the future of space exploration, examining the MIT Space Exploration Initiative's design and prototyping approach, and MIT parabolic flight research examples across Science, Engineering, Art, and Design, and across departments. Enrollment limited; admission by application.
C. Paige, A. Ekblaw, J. Hoffman

MAS.839[J] Operating in the Lunar Environment
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 16.839[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-2-8
______
Explores in detail the design and engineering challenges posed by operating in the lunar environment. Students work in teams to design a payload to address strategic objectives associated with NASA's Artemis program, aiming to enable near-term sustainable settlements on the lunar surface. Lectures and associated recitations explore varying mission goals and operating environments, from lunar-class launch, to orbiters, landers, rovers, and habitats. Guest lecturers include prominent engineers, scientists, industry players, and policymakers with direct experience in lunar mission design and development. Enrollment limited; admission by application.
J. Hoffman, A. Ekblaw

MAS.841 Evolution: Natural and Directed
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers topics in molecular evolution, including mutation, recombination, evolvability, sexual reproduction and substitutes, experimental and directed evolution, genomic conflict, and gene drive. Features discussion-based critical analyses of the primary literature. At the end of the term, students prepare short research proposals emphasizing research strategy, experimental design, presentation, and writing. They also write a short grant proposal or manuscript intended for publication.
Staff

MAS.842 Safeguarding the Future
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Subject meets with MAS.342)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W10-1 (E15-341) +final
______
Leading experts guide discussions of how to safeguard the world against the greatest threats to our future. Topics range from the overt perils of pandemic and nuclear proliferation to the underlying coordination failures responsible for climate change, and from technological stagnation to transformative AI. Draws on the history of invention and science communication to explore which technologies are most likely to shape the future and how inventors and developers can influence outcomes, with the goal of determining how to accomplish as much good as possible. Emphasizes science writing and communication. Students write three op-eds on key issues and participate in a group project aiming to coordinate effective action. Students taking the graduate version complete additional work.
K. Esvelt, M. Specter
No textbook information available

MAS.858[J] Asking How Space Enabled Designs Advance Justice and Development
______

Graduate (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 16.857[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines theoretical and practical challenges of applying complex technology, such as space systems, to advance justice and development within human society. Proposes and critiques a concept of justice and development based on attainment of the US Sustainable Development Goals. Analyzes text by historians and economists around global patterns of uneven technology access. Teaches systems engineering tools to analyze the context, stakeholders, functions and forms of complex systems that impact society. Presents six space technologies used for specific Sustainable Development Goal. Students read several text, discuss key themes, write reflective responses, and write a research proposal on a topic of their choice. Part of two-class series on space technology and sustainable development. Limited to 15.
D. Wood

MAS.859[J] Space Technology for the Development Leader
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 16.859[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
Lecture: M9-12 (E14-493)
______
Follow on to MAS.858. Introduces intersections between space technology and sustainable development by examining technical, policy and social aspects of seven space technologies: satellite earth observation; satellite communication; satellite positioning; human space flight and micro gravity research; space technology transfer; fundamental scientific space research; and small satellites. Lectures introduce the UN Sustainable Development Goals and show linkages to seven space technologies from the perspective of development practitioners. Students read scholarly papers, write weekly responses, give presentations, and write a research paper.
D. Wood
No textbook information available

MAS.862 The Physics of Information Technology
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: http://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/MAS.862/
Lecture: R1-4 (E14-493)
______
Self-contained introduction to the governing equations for devices that collect, store, manipulate, transmit and present information. Provides an understanding of how operational device principles work, their uses, the limits on their performance, and how they might be improved. Students review the foundations of thermodynamics and noise, electromagnetics, and the quantum description of materials, and then study their application in areas such as semiconductor logic, magnetic storage, wireless and optical communications, and quantum information and computation.
N. Gershenfeld
No textbook information available

MAS.863[J] How to Make (Almost) Anything
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 4.140[J], 6.9020[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-9-6
______
Provides a practical hands-on introduction to digital fabrication, including CAD/CAM/CAE, NC machining, 3-D printing and scanning, molding and casting, composites, laser and waterjet cutting, PCB design and fabrication; sensors and actuators; mixed-signal instrumentation, embedded processing, and wired and wireless communications. Develops an understanding of these capabilities through projects using them individually and jointly to create functional systems.
N. Gershenfeld

MAS.864 The Nature of Mathematical Modeling
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/MAS.864/
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Surveys the range of levels of description for mathematical modeling, including analytical solutions and approximations for difference and differential equations; finite difference, finite element, and discrete element numerical models; stochastic processes, nonlinear function fitting, constrained optimization, and machine learning architectures. Emphasis is on how these methods relate, and on their efficient practical implementation.
N. Gershenfeld

MAS.865 Rapid-Prototyping of Rapid-Prototyping Machines: How to Make Something that Makes (Almost) Anything
______

Graduate (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: MAS.863 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-9-0
URL: https://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/MAS.865/
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Studies rapid-prototyping machines and covers the theory and practice of digital fabrication processes. Weekly lectures supported by readings from research literature. Students work on machine development projects throughout the term.
N. Gershenfeld

MAS.881[J] Principles of Neuroengineering
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 9.422[J], 20.452[J])
(Subject meets with 20.352)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers how to innovate technologies for brain analysis and engineering, for accelerating the basic understanding of the brain, and leading to new therapeutic insight and inventions. Focuses on using physical, chemical and biological principles to understand technology design criteria governing ability to observe and alter brain structure and function. Topics include optogenetics, noninvasive brain imaging and stimulation, nanotechnologies, stem cells and tissue engineering, and advanced molecular and structural imaging technologies. Includes design projects. Designed for students with engineering maturity who are ready for design. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
E. S. Boyden, III

MAS.883[J] Revolutionary Ventures: How to Invent and Deploy Transformative Technologies
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 9.455[J], 15.128[J], 20.454[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-7
______
Seminar on envisioning and building ideas and organizations to accelerate engineering revolutions. Focuses on emerging technology domains, such as neurotechnology, imaging, cryotechnology, gerontechnology, and bio-and-nano fabrication. Draws on historical examples as well as live case studies of existing or emerging organizations, including labs, institutes, startups, and companies. Goals range from accelerating basic science to developing transformative products or therapeutics. Each class is devoted to a specific area, often with invited speakers, exploring issues from the deeply technical through the strategic. Individually or in small groups, students prototype new ventures aimed at inventing and deploying revolutionary technologies.
E. Boyden, J. Bonsen, J. Jacobson

MAS.885 How To Grow (Almost) Anything
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: T2-5 (E15-341) Recitation: W EVE (5-7 PM) (E15-359)
______
Teaches skills at the cutting edge of bioengineering and synthetic biology. Taught in three major modules: synthetic biology bootcamp, biofabrication and imaging, and genome engineering. Guest lecturers provide expertise in their respective domains and wet lab skills development. Topics include bio design, next generation synthesis, bio production, protein design, synthetic minimal cells, engineering the gut microbiome, 3D bio printing & biofabrication, expansion microscopy, and DNA nanostructures. Students should have experience or background in at least one of the following areas: synthetic biology, molecular, cell, or micro-biology, digital fabrication, design, or art. Limited to 15.
J. Jacobson, D. Kong
No textbook information available

MAS.890 Independent Study in Media Arts and Sciences
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a faculty member. Registration subject to prior arrangement of subject matter and supervision by staff.
Fall: S. Shubart
Spring: S. Shubart
No required or recommended textbooks

General

MAS.910 Research in Media Technology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Research for Media Arts and Sciences students, where the assigned research is approved for academic credit by the department.
Fall: S. Shubart
Spring: S. Shubart
No required or recommended textbooks

MAS.912 Teaching in Media Arts and Sciences
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Laboratory, tutorial, or classroom teaching under the supervision of a Media Arts and Sciences faculty member. Students selected by interview. Enrollment limited by availability of suitable teaching assignments.
Fall: S. Shubart
Spring: S. Shubart
No required or recommended textbooks

MAS.914 Practical Experience in Media Arts and Sciences
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-1-0 [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For Media Arts and Sciences masters students participating in curriculum-related off-campus professional internship experiences. Before enrolling, students must have an employment offer from a company or organization and approval from their advisor. Subject to departmental approval. Upon completion of the activity the student must submit a write-up of the experience, approved by the MIT advisor. Consult the MAS Office for details on procedures and restrictions.
Fall: S. Shubart
Spring: S. Shubart
No required or recommended textbooks

MAS.915 Practical Experience in Media Arts and Sciences
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-1-0 [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
For Media Arts and Sciences doctoral students participating in curriculum-related off-campus professional internship experiences. Before enrolling, students must have an employment offer from a company or organization and approval from their advisor. Subject to departmental approval. Upon completion of the activity the student must submit a write-up of the experience, approved by the MIT advisor. Consult the MAS Office for details on procedures and restrictions.
Fall: S. Shubart
IAP: S. Shubart
Spring: S. Shubart
No required or recommended textbooks

MAS.921 Proseminar in Media Arts and Sciences
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9 [P/D/F]
______
Designed specifically for new doctoral students in the Media Arts and Sciences (MAS) program. Explores intellectual foundations of MAS, unifying themes connecting MAS research, and working practices of MAS researchers. Restricted to MAS doctoral students.
M. Resnick

MAS.940 Preparation for SM Thesis I
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
Lecture: W3.30-5 (E15-341)
______
For first-year master's students in the MAS program. Features faculty-led discussions on best practices for conducting and evaluating research in diverse disciplines, ways of assessing the consequences of new technologies, and strategies for mitigating unintended outcomes. Working in small groups, students share and critique research ideas to catalyze and refine projects and collaborations. By the end of the course, students will have identified potential committee members to help guide their thesis research.
K. Esvelt, C. Breazeal
No textbook information available

MAS.941 Preparation for SM Thesis II
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: MAS.940 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6 [P/D/F]
______
Guides students in the selection of thesis topic, definition of method of approach, and preparation for Crit Day and thesis proposal.
K. Esvelt

MAS.945 Media Arts and Sciences General Exam
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-12-0 [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Required subject for Media Arts and Sciences doctoral students working on the general exam, from preparation of the proposal through completion of the oral and written components of the exam.
Fall: S. Shubart
IAP: S. Shubart
Spring: S. Shubart
No required or recommended textbooks

MAS.950 Preparation for Ph.D. Thesis
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Selects thesis subject, defines method of approach, and prepares preliminary thesis outline. Independent study, supplemented by frequent individual conferences with staff members. Restricted to doctoral candidates.
Fall: S. Shubart
IAP: S. Shubart
Spring: S. Shubart
No required or recommended textbooks

MAS.S10 Special Subject in Media Technology
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Supplementary work in areas not covered by the regular curriculum. Registration subject to prior arrangement.
MAS Staff

MAS.S60-MAS.S64 Special Subject in Media Technology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
MAS.S60: Lecture: TR1 (E15-341)
MAS.S61: Lecture: T10-1 (E15-341)
MAS.S62: Lecture: R1-3 (E15-466)
MAS.S63: Lecture: T1-3 (E15-359)
Subject Cancelled MAS.S64 Cancelled
______
Supplementary work in areas not covered by the regular curriculum. Registration subject to prior arrangement.
M. Mokgosi
MAS.S60: No textbook information available
MAS.S61: No textbook information available
MAS.S62: No textbook information available
MAS.S63: No textbook information available

MAS.S65-MAS.S69 Special Subject in Media Technology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
MAS.S65: Lecture: T10.30-12 (E15-359) Lab: R10.30-12 (E15-341)
MAS.S66: Lecture: TR1-4 (3-415)
______
Supplementary work in areas not covered by the regular curriculum. Registration subject to prior arrangement.
Staff
MAS.S65: No textbook information available
MAS.S66: No textbook information available

MAS.S70 Special Subject in Media Technology
______

Graduate (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Supplementary work in areas not covered by the regular curriculum. Registration subject to prior arrangement.
Staff

MAS.S71 Special Subject in Media Technology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit; first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Supplementary work in areas not covered by the regular curriculum. Registration subject to prior arrangement.
Staff

MAS.S72 Special Subject in Media Technology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Supplementary work in areas not covered by the regular curriculum. Registration subject to prior arrangement.
Staff

MAS.S73 Special Subject in Media Technology
______

Graduate (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Supplementary work in areas not covered by the regular curriculum. Registration subject to prior arrangement.
Staff

MAS.S74 Special Subject in Media Technology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit; first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Supplementary work in areas not covered by the regular curriculum. Registration subject to prior arrangement.
Staff

MAS.S75 Special Subject in Media Technology
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit; second half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Supplementary work in areas not covered by the regular curriculum. Registration subject to prior arrangement.
Staff

MAS.S76 Special Subject in Media Arts and Sciences
______

Graduate (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
______
Supplementary work in areas not covered by the regular curriculum. Registration subject to prior arrangement.
Staff

MAS.S90 Special Subject in Media Arts and Sciences
______

Graduate (Fall) Can be repeated for credit; partial term
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Supplementary work in areas not covered by the regular curriculum. Registration subject to prior arrangement.
M. Resnick

MAS.THG Graduate Thesis
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research and writing of thesis; to be arranged by the student with supervising committee.
Fall: S. Shubart
IAP: S. Shubart
Spring: S. Shubart
No required or recommended textbooks


left arrow | MAS.-MAS.999 plus UROP | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Supply Chain Management
IAP/Spring 2025

SCM Home    IAP only    Evaluations (Certificates Required)
left arrow | SCM.000-SCM.999 | right arrow

SCM.250 Analytical Methods for Supply Chain Management I
______

Graduate (Fall); partial term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1
______
Covers the primary methods of analysis required for supply chain management planning. The class solves various practical problems using simulation, linear programming, integer programming, regression, and other techniques. The work is primarily team based with a final exam. Restricted to SCM students.
E. Dugundji

SCM.251 Supply Chain Financial Analysis
______

Graduate (Fall); partial term
Prereq: None. Coreq: SCM.260; or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Explores the linkages between supply chain management and corporate finance. Emphasizes how the supply chain creates value for both the shareholders of the company and for the stakeholders affected by the company's operations. Sessions combine lectures and data-rich cases from the manufacturer, distributor, and retailer perspective. Topics include accounting fundamentals, financial analysis, activity-based costing, working capital management, cash flow projections, capital budgeting, and sustainability.
J. Goentzel, J. Rice

SCM.253 Case Studies in Supply Chain Financial Analysis
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Students explore and discuss case studies that focus on financial analysis in real supply chains. Cases provide the opportunity for students to apply the theory and quantitative methods that they have studied in addressing actual supply chain challenges. These include decision making around sourcing, capital investments, inventory strategy, and new product introduction. Students present and defend their solutions to their peers.
J. Rice

SCM.254 Analytical Methods for Supply Chain Management II
______

Graduate (IAP)
Prereq: SCM.250, SCM.500, or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-1
______
Introduces tools needed to analyze data to solve supply chain and logistics problems. Topics include principal component analysis and clustering, regression and prediction for continuous and discrete variables, experimental design and causal inference, and geospatial visualization and analysis. Instruction provided in Python programming in the context of data analysis applications for supply chain management. Restricted to SCM students.
Staff
No textbook information available

SCM.256 Data Science and Machine Learning for Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: SCM.254 or permission of instructor
Units: 5-0-7
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (54-100) Lab: R4-5.30 (E25-111) Recitation: T8.30-10 (E51-145) or T4-5.30 (E51-376) or F1-2.30 (E52-164) or F4-5.30 (E52-164)
______
Introduces data science and machine learning topics in both theory and application. Data science topics include database and API connections, data preparation and manipulation, and data structures. Machine learning topics include model fitting, tuning and prediction, end-to-end problem solving, feature engineering and feature selection, overfitting, generalization, classification, regression, neural networks, dimensionality reduction and clustering. Covers software packages for statistical analysis, data visualization and machine learning. Introduces best practices related to source control, system architecture, cloud computing frameworks and modules, security, emerging financial technologies and software process. Applies teaching examples to logistics, transportation, and supply chain problems. Enrollment limited.
E. Dugundji
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.258 Written Communication Topics for Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
Credit cannot also be received for SCM.259
______
Provides an overview of the expectations for the capstone project and thesis. Explores techniques for developing and organizing ideas and for writing concise, fluid prose. Covers how to find and work with source materials.  Restricted to SCM students.
Fall: P. Siska
IAP: P. Siska
No textbook information available

SCM.259 Written Communication for Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
Credit cannot also be received for SCM.258
______
Provides an overview of the expectations for the capstone project/thesis. Explores techniques for developing and organizing ideas and for writing concise, fluid prose. Covers how to find and use source materials. Also touches upon principles of good poster design. Restricted to SCM students.
P. Siska

SCM.260[J] Logistics Systems
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Same subject as 1.260[J], 15.770[J], IDS.730[J])
(Subject meets with SCM.271)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to supply chain management from both analytical and practical perspectives. Taking a unified approach, students develop a framework for making intelligent decisions within the supply chain. Covers key logistics functions, such as demand planning, procurement, inventory theory and control, transportation planning and execution, reverse logistics, and flexible contracting. Explores concepts such as postponement, portfolio management, and dual sourcing. Emphasizes skills necessary to recognize and manage risk, analyze various tradeoffs, and model logistics systems. SCM.271 meets with SCM.260, but has fewer assignments.
Angela Acocella, Chris Caplice

SCM.261[J] Case Studies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 1.261[J], 15.771[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR1-2.30 (E52-164)
______
A combination of case studies and industry speakers covering the strategic and operating issues in supply chain transformation. Focuses on the pragmatic creation of supply chain capabilities, including resilience, omnichannel, E2E visibility, entrepreneurship, servitization, E2E automation, and AI.
M. Jesus Saenz
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.262 Leading Global Teams
______

Graduate (IAP)
Prereq: SCM.260 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Reinforces supply chain concepts and develops management and teamwork skills. Focuses on practical, rather than theoretical tools, methodologies, and approaches that students will use throughout their supply chain career. Includes guest lectures, a case competition, and several large-scale, team-based simulation learning games. Restricted to SCM students.
C. Mejia
No textbook information available

SCM.263 Advanced Writing Workshop for SCM
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
Lecture: F8.30-10 (E52-164) or F10-11.30 (E52-164)
______
Designed to help students write an excellent capstone/thesis. Lectures cover conventions of academic writing and the expectations for each chapter of the capstone/thesis. Small team coaching sessions provide in-depth feedback on each project, helping students present their ideas in cogent, concise prose. Restricted to SCM students.
P. Siska, T. Gooley
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.264 Databases and Data Analysis for Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Fall); second half of term
(Subject meets with SCM.274)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-3
______
Introduces databases, data analysis, and machine learning topics. Covers data modeling, relational databases, SQL queries, data mining, non-relational databases, and data warehouses. Introduces data analysis tools for visualization, regression, supervised and unsupervised techniques including principal component analysis and clustering. Term project includes implementation of data model, database, visualization and data analysis. SCM.274 meets with SCM.264 but requires fewer assignments and lectures. Restricted to SCM students.
C. Cassa, T. Hall

SCM.265[J] Global Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
(Same subject as 1.265[J], 2.965[J], 15.765[J])
Prereq: 15.761, 15.778, SCM.260, SCM.261, or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR1-2.30 (6-120)
______
Focuses on the planning, processes, and activities of supply chain management for companies involved in international commerce. Students examine the end-to-end processes and operational challenges in managing global supply chains, such as the basics of global trade, international transportation, duty, taxes, trade finance and hedging, currency issues, outsourcing, cultural differences, risks and security, and green supply chains issues. Highly interactive format features student-led discussions, staged debates, and a mock trial. Includes assignments on case studies and sourcing analysis, as well as projects and a final exam.
S. Willems
No textbook information available

SCM.266 Freight Transportation
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: SCM.260
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR8.30-10 (E51-376)
______
Provides an in-depth introduction to the fundamental concepts and techniques related to the design, procurement, and management of freight transportation. Examines freight transportation as a bridging function for a firm, considering the physical flow of raw materials and finished goods as well as connections to suppliers and customers. Also covers how freight transportation insulates a firm's core operations from external disruptions and variability of supply and demand.
C. Caplice, A. Acocella
No textbook information available

SCM.270 Current Challenges in Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-0 [P/D/F]
Lecture: W4-5.30 (E51-057)
______
Each week students study and then discuss a case and/or article(s) related to a current challenge in supply chain management. Led by faculty and researchers in the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL) along with invited guest speakers from industry. Topics highlight the current areas of research at CTL as well as other challenging issues from industry. Includes several required case write-ups or research papers.
C. Caplice
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.271 Logistics Systems Topics
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Subject meets with 1.260[J], 15.770[J], IDS.730[J], SCM.260[J])
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Provides an introduction to supply chain management from both analytical and practical perspectives. Taking a unified approach, students develop a framework for making intelligent decisions within the supply chain. Covers key logistics functions, such as demand planning, procurement, inventory theory and control, transportation planning and execution, reverse logistics, and flexible contracting. Explores concepts such as postponement, portfolio management, and dual sourcing. Emphasizes skills necessary to recognize and manage risk, analyze various tradeoffs, and model logistics systems. SCM.271 meets with SCM.260, but has fewer assignments. Restricted to students who previously completed the edX course SC1x Supply Chain Fundamentals.
C. Caplice, D. Correll

SCM.274 Databases and Data Analysis Topics for Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Fall); second half of term
(Subject meets with SCM.264)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
______
Introduces databases, data analysis, and machine learning topics. Covers data modeling, relational databases, SQL queries, data mining, non-relational databases, and data warehouses. Introduces data analysis tools for visualization, regression, supervised and unsupervised techniques including principal component analysis and clustering. Term project includes implementation of data model, database, visualization and data analysis. SCM.274 meets with SCM.264 but requires fewer assignments and lectures. Restricted to SCM students.
C. Cassa, T. Hall

SCM.275 Advanced Supply Chain Systems Planning and Network Design
______

Graduate (Fall); second half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Explores the challenges of supply chain design in the dynamic and uncertain context of the contemporary supply chains. Introduces students to the most common decisions in supply chain design, the main trade-offs associated with those decisions, and the fundamental quantitative methods for used in supply chain design. Helps students translate a real-life business decision-making problem into a formal supply chain network design mathematical model.
M. Janjevic

SCM.281 Supply Chain Public Speaking Workshop
______

Graduate (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
Lecture: F8.30-10 (E52-164) or F10-11.30 (E52-164)
______
Further develops and refines public speaking skills through engaging interactive workshops. Techniques learned will help students become dynamic and authentic speakers. Includes speaking preparation, practice sessions, tactics related to content and delivery, storytelling, and crafting presentations, always in relation to concepts and fundamentals of supply chain management. Restricted to SCM students.
P. Cheek
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.282 Supply Chain Leadership Workshop
______

Graduate (IAP)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Designed to enhance your ability to manage and lead in challenging times through a series of self assessment instruments, case studies, and workshops. The objectives are to increase awareness of your strengths and weaknesses as a leader, provide a battery of instruments and surveys to help one understand the way one operates in an organizational setting, and offer strategies and tips on how to leverage one's strengths and work on areas in need of development. Restricted to SCM students.
Staff

SCM.283 Humanitarian Logistics
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
URL: https://humanitarian.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Syllabus-2020-SCM283-HumanitarianLogistics.pdf
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: MW1-2.30 (E25-117) Recitation: R EVE (5.30 PM) (E51-372)
______
Explores how logistics management improves response to humanitarian crises stemming from natural disasters, armed conflicts, epidemics, and famine. Class sessions combine online and class lectures, practical exercises, case discussions, and guest speakers. Provides students from various backgrounds with knowledge of the humanitarian context and fundamental supply chain concepts, as well as practice applying new knowledge in developing and communicating plans and policies to address realistic problems.
J. Goentzel
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.284 Humanitarian Logistics Project
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: SCM.283
Units: 1-0-5
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW1-2.30 (E51-390)
______
Students completing SCM.283 may enroll for an independent study project, to be completed individually or in a small group, during the second half of the semester. Projects aim to drive innovation and improvement in humanitarian action, utilizing data and information directly from sources such as the UN, Red Cross, national government agencies, NGOs, and/or the private sector. Most projects include direct engagement with leaders from the humanitarian organizations.
J. Goentzel
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.287[J] Global Aging & the Built Environment
______

Graduate (Spring)
(Same subject as 11.547[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: F2-5 (E40-210)
______
Combines classroom lectures/discussion, readings, site visits, and field study to provide students with experience in various research techniques including stakeholder analysis, interviewing, photography and image analysis, focus groups, etc. Students examine the impacts of global demographic transition, when there are more older than younger people in a population, and explore emerging challenges in the built environment (e.g., age-friendly community planning, public transportation access, acceptance of driverless cars, social wellbeing and connectivity, housing and community design, design and use of public and private spaces, and the public health implications of climate change and aging).
J. Coughlin
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.289 E-Commerce and Omnichannel Fulfillment Strategies
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: TR10-11.30 (E52-164)
______
Explores supply chain challenges when implementing omnichannel strategies. Develops an in-depth understanding of how customers' expectations and e-commerce is transforming warehouses operations. Discusses the most relevant traditional warehouses operations and the most innovating fulfillment models in e-commerce and omnichannel. Includes presentations, guest speakers, team projects, and case discussions.
E. Ponce, M. Rodriguez Garcia
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.290 Sustainable Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Ends Mar 21. Lecture: MW10-11.30 (E51-149)
______
Focuses on analyzing the environmental implications of logistics decisions in the supply chain, with special focus on the effect of green transportation, and the new trends in logistics sustainability within the context of growing urbanization and e-commerce. Studies practical alternatives on how to optimize CO2 emissions during last-mile operations by using geo-spatial analysis, and data analytics. Examines the delivery of "fast" and "green" in the new digital era, consumer relationship to sustainable products and services, and environmental costs of fast-shipping e-commerce. Covers supply chain carbon footprint, sustainable transportation, green vehicle routing, fleet assignment, truck consolidation, closed-loop supply chains, reverse logistics, green inventory management, and green consumer behavior.
J. Velazquez
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.291 Procurement Fundamentals
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: MW10-11.30 (E51-149)
______
Introduces strategic procurement fundamentals to enhance both competitive advantage and resilience to supply chains. Covers frameworks and tools that managers use to elevate purchasing from an operational function to a strategic one. Includes both classic resilience- and cost-based portfolios, as well as modern perspectives, which consider sustainability and power. Combines theoretical and applied perspectives and is designed for students with or without previous procurement experience. Assessment based on case analysis and a final project.
J. Rice
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.293[J] Urban Last-Mile Logistics
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring); second half of term
(Same subject as 1.263[J], 11.263[J])
Prereq: SCM.254 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-0-4
______
Explores specific challenges of urban last-mile B2C and B2B distribution in both industrialized and emerging economies. Develops an in-depth understanding of the perspectives, roles, and decisions of all relevant stakeholder groups, from consumers to private sector decision makers and public policy makers. Discusses the most relevant traditional and the most promising innovating operating models for urban last-mile distribution. Introduces applications of the essential quantitative methods for the strategic design and tactical planning of urban last-mile distribution systems, including optimization and simulation. Covers basic facility location problems, network design problems, single- and multi-echelon vehicle routing problems, as well as associated approximation techniques. Requires intermediate coding skills in Python and independent quantitative analyses Python.
M. Winkenbach

SCM.294 Digital Supply Chain Transformation
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Graduate (Spring); first half of term
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
______
Analyzes the factors involved in the digital transformation of supply chain relationships. Develops an in-depth understanding of the perspectives, roles, and decisions of relevant stakeholders in transforming supply chains in the digital era. Covers digital supply chain capabilities, the role of technology, processes and organizations, as well as digital platforms and performance. Discusses relevant case studies of digitally transformed supply chains, covering topics of long-term competitive advantage through operations and digital enhanced value generation. Includes presentations, guest speakers, team projects and case discussions, under experiential learning complementary approaches.
M. Jesus Saenz

SCM.295 Supply Chain Study Trek
______

Graduate (Spring); partial term
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
______
Focuses on real world application of logistics and supply chain. Includes travel to on-site locations, company visits, facility operation tours, and partner presentations. Requires prior approval, detailed proposal, and final report.
Staff

SCM.301 Independent Study: Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Opportunity for research in Supply Chain Management and Logistics on an individual or group basis. Registration subject to prior arrangement and supervision by staff.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff

SCM.302 Independent Study: Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Opportunity for research in Supply Chain Management and Logistics on an individual or group basis. Registration subject to prior arrangement and supervision by staff.
Fall: Staff
IAP: Staff
Spring: Staff
Summer: Staff

SCM.500 Studies in Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (IAP)
Prereq: Permission of department
Units: 0-0-42 [P/D/F]
______
Introduction to supply chain management in a series of online subjects followed by a comprehensive examination. Analytics: analysis and modeling, statistics, regression, optimization and probability. Fundamentals: concepts for logistics, demand forecasting, inventory planning, control, transportation planning, and execution. Design: network design, finance, supplier management, demand planning, and organization design. Dynamics: global supply chain management, system dynamics, risk management, case studies and simulations. Technology and systems: IT concepts, core systems, and data analysis. Restricted to students who successfully receive the MicroMasters Credential in Supply Chain Management and enroll in the SCM blended master's program.
Y. Sheffi, CTL Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.800 Capstone Project in Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Provides an opportunity for students to synthesize their coursework and professional experience in supply chain management. Students conduct research on a real-world problem of interest to supply chain practitioners. Projects may include site visits, in-person interviews and quantitative analysis of data provided by a sponsoring company, agency, or NGO. Students present their research results in both a report and to an audience of sponsors and supply chain executives. Restricted to SCM students.
Fall: M. Jesus Saenz
IAP: M. Jesus Saenz
Spring: M. Jesus Saenz
Summer: M. Jesus Saenz
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.C51 Machine Learning Applications for Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Spring); second half of term
Prereq: 6.C51 and (SCM.254 or permission of instructor)
Units: 2-0-4
Begins Mar 31. Lecture: TR2.30-4 (E51-372)
______
Building on core material in 6.C51, applies selected machine learning models to build practical, data-driven implementations addressing key business problems in supply chain management. Discusses challenges that typically arise in these practical implementations. Addresses relevant elements for large scale productionalization and monitoring of machine learning models in practice. Students cannot receive credit without completion of the core subject 6.C51.
I. Jackson
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.S90 Special Subject: Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Opportunity for study of topics in Supply Chain Management not otherwise included in the curriculum.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff

SCM.S91 Special Subject: Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Opportunity for study of topics in Supply Chain Management not otherwise included in the curriculum.
Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.S92 Special Subject: Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Opportunity for study of topics in Supply Chain Management not otherwise included in the curriculum.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff

SCM.S93 Special Subject: Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
______
Opportunity for study of topics in Supply Chain Management not otherwise included in the curriculum.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff

SCM.S94 Special Subject: Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Opportunity for study of topics in Supply Chain Management not otherwise included in the curriculum.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.S95 Special Subject: Supply Chain Management
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Opportunity for study of topics in Supply Chain Management not otherwise included in the curriculum.
Fall: Staff
Spring: Staff

SCM.THG Graduate Thesis
______

Graduate (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Program of research leading to the writing of a master's thesis on a relevant supply chain management topic. Arranged by the student with a member of the Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL) research staff.
Fall: M. Jesus Saenz
IAP: M. Jesus Saenz
Spring: M. Jesus Saenz
Summer: M. Jesus Saenz
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.UR Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in Supply Chain Management.
Fall: A. Mackin
IAP: A. Mackin
Spring: A. Mackin
No required or recommended textbooks

SCM.URG Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in Supply Chain Management.
Fall: A. Mackin
IAP: A. Mackin
Spring: A. Mackin
No required or recommended textbooks


left arrow | SCM.000-SCM.999 | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Aerospace Studies
IAP/Spring 2025


ROTC subjects do not carry academic credit at MIT, but they can be counted toward the PE Requirement. Up to two points per year with a maximum of four points.

Aerospace Studies

AS.101 Heritage and Values of the United States Air Force
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None. Coreq: AS.111
Units: 1-0-1
______
Survey course designed to introduce students to the United States Air Force. Provides an overview of the basic characteristics, missions, and organizations of the Air Force. 
A. Baptiste

AS.102 Heritage and Values of the United States Air Force
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: AS.101 or permission of instructor; Coreq: AS.112
Units: 1-0-1
Lecture: T2 (W59-073) +final
______
Survey course designed to introduce students to the United States Air Force. Provides an overview of the basic characteristics, missions, and organizations of the Air Force. AS.102 is a continuation of AS.101.
S. Keith
No textbook information available

AS.111 Leadership Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None. Coreq: AS.101
Units: 0-2-2 [P/D/F]
______
First-year General Military Course. Includes a study of Air Force customs and courtesies, drill and ceremonies, and military commands. Also includes studying the environment of an Air Force officer and learning about areas of opportunity available to commissioned officers, as well as interviews, guidance, and information to increase the understanding, motivation, and performance of other cadets.
S. Keith

AS.112 Leadership Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: AS.111 or permission of instructor; Coreq: AS.102
Units: 0-2-2 [P/D/F]
Lecture: T3-5 (1-190)
______
Includes a study of Air Force customs and courtesies, drill and ceremonies, and military commands. Also includes studying the environment of an Air Force officer and learning about areas of opportunity available to commissioned officers, as well as interviews, guidance, and information to increase the understanding, motivation, and performance of other cadets. AS.112 is a continuation of AS.111.
S. Keith
No textbook information available

AS.201 Team and Leadership Fundamentals
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: AS.102 or permission of instructor; Coreq: AS.211
Units: 1-0-1
______
Focuses on laying the foundation for teams and leadership. Topics center on skills that allow cadets to improve their leadership on a personal level and within a team. Prepares cadets for their field training experience where they have the opportunity to put the concepts covered in to practice. Aims to instill a leadership mindset and motivate sophomore students to transition from AFROTC cadet to AFROTC officer candidate.
Almira Baptiste

AS.202 Team and Leadership Fundamentals
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: AS.201 or permission of instructor; Coreq: AS.212
Units: 1-0-1
Lecture: T1 (W59-073) +final
______
Focuses on laying the foundation for teams and leadership. Topics center on skills that allow cadets to improve their leadership on a personal level and within a team. Prepares cadets for their field training experience where they have the opportunity to put the concepts covered in to practice. Aims to instill a leadership mindset and motivate sophomore students to transition from AFROTC cadet to AFROTC officer candidate.
M. Sawyer
No textbook information available

AS.211 Leadership Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: AS.112 or permission of instructor; Coreq: AS.201
Units: 0-2-2 [P/D/F]
______
Emphasizes development of techniques used to direct and inform. Students are assigned leadership and management positions in the AS.111 programs. AS.212 is a continuation of AS.211.
S. Keith

AS.212 Leadership Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: AS.211 or permission of instructor; Coreq: AS.202
Units: 0-2-2 [P/D/F]
Lecture: T3-5 (1-190)
______
Emphasizes development of techniques used to direct and inform. Students are assigned leadership and management positions in the AS.111 programs described above. AS.212 is a continuation of AS.211.
S. Keith
No textbook information available

AS.301 Leading People and Effective Communication
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: AS.202 or permission of instructor; Coreq: AS.311
Units: 3-0-6
______
Covers advanced skills and knowledge in management and leadership, with special emphasis on enhancing cadets' leadership skills and communication. Cadets have an opportunity to try out these leadership and management techniques in a supervised environment as juniors and seniors.
E. Amato

AS.302 Leading People and Effective Communication
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: AS.301 or permission of instructor; Coreq: AS.312
Units: 3-0-3
Lecture: R3-4.30 (W59-073) +final
______
Covers advanced skills and knowledge in management and leadership, with special emphasis on enhancing cadets' leadership skills and communication. Cadets have an opportunity to try out these leadership and management techniques in a supervised environment as juniors and seniors.
E. Amato
No textbook information available

AS.311 Leadership Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: AS.212 or permission of instructor; Coreq: AS.301
Units: 0-2-4 [P/D/F]
______
Consists of activities classified as advanced leadership experiences that involve the planning and controlling of military activities of the cadet corps and the preparation and presentation of briefings and other oral and written communications. Also includes interviews, guidance, and information to increase the understanding, motivation, and performance of other cadets. AS.312 is a continuation of AS.311.
S. Keith

AS.312 Leadership Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: AS.311 or permission of instructor; Coreq: AS.302
Units: 0-2-4 [P/D/F]
Lecture: T3-5 (1-190)
______
Consists of activities classified as advanced leadership experiences that involve the planning and controlling of military activities of the cadet corps and the preparation and presentation of briefings and other oral and written communications. Also includes interviews, guidance, and information to increase the understanding, motivation, and performance of other cadets. AS.312 is a continuation of AS.311.
S. Keith
No textbook information available

AS.401 National Security Affairs/Preparation for Active Duty
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: AS.302 or permission of instructor; Coreq: AS.411
Units: 3-0-9
______
Designed for college seniors, providing them the foundation to understand their role as military officers in American society. Includes an overview of the complex social and political issues facing the military profession and requires a measure of sophistication commensurate with the senior college level.
S. Keith

AS.402 National Security Affairs/Preparation for Active Duty
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: AS.401 or permission of instructor; Coreq: AS.412
Units: 3-0-3
Lecture: W3-5 (1-132)
______
Designed for college seniors, providing them the foundation to understand their role as military officers in American society. Includes an overview of the complex social and political issues facing the military profession and requires a measure of sophistication commensurate with the senior college level. Provides information that prepares cadets for active duty.
S. Keith
No textbook information available

AS.411 Leadership Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: AS.312 or permission of instructor; Coreq: AS.401
Units: 0-2-4 [P/D/F]
______
Consists of activities classified as advanced leadership experiences that involve the planning and controlling of military activities of the cadet corps, and the preparation and presentation of briefings and other oral and written communications. Also includes interviews, guidance, and information to increase the understanding, motivation, and performance of other cadets. AS.412 is a continuation of AS.411.
S. Keith

AS.412 Leadership Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: AS.411 or permission of instructor; Coreq: AS.402
Units: 0-2-4 [P/D/F]
Lecture: T3-5 (1-190)
______
Consists of activities classified as advanced leadership experiences that involve the planning and controlling of military activities of the cadet corps, and the preparation and presentation of briefings and other oral and written communications. Also includes interviews, guidance, and information to increase the understanding, motivation, and performance of other cadets. AS.412 is a continuation of AS.411.
S. Keith
No textbook information available

AS.511 Leadership Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: AS.412 or permission of instructor
Units: 0-2-4 [P/D/F]
______
Consists of activities classified as advanced leadership experiences to continue developing critical leadership, managerial and communication skills along with maintaining an active, physical lifestyle needed in today's Air Force. AS.512 is a continuation of AS.511.
P. Dela Cruz

AS.512 Leadership Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: AS.511 or permission of instructor
Units: 0-2-4 [P/D/F]
______
Consists of activities classified as advanced leadership experiences to continue developing critical leadership, managerial and communication skills along with maintaining an active, physical lifestyle needed in today's Air Force. AS.512 is a continuation of AS.511.
Staff

AS.811 Leadership Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: AS.411 or permission of instructor
Units: 0-2-4 [P/D/F]
______
Consists of activities classified as advanced leadership experiences to continue developing critical leadership, managerial and communication skills, along with maintaining an active, physical lifestyle needed in today's Air Force.
S. Keith

AS.812 Leadership Laboratory
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 0-2-4 [P/D/F]
Lecture: T3-5 (1-190)
______
Cadets develop critical leadership, managerial and communication skills while maintaining an active, physical lifestyle needed in today's Air Force. Consists of activities classified as advanced leadership experiences that involve mentoring the cadet corps, special projects, and event planning.
S. Keith
No textbook information available


left arrow | AS.00-AS.999 | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Military Science
IAP/Spring 2025


ROTC subjects do not carry academic credit at MIT, but they can be counted toward the PE requirement. Up to two points per year with a maximum of four points.

Military Science

MS.101 Introduction to the Army and Critical Thinking
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: None. Coreq: MS.102
Units: 1-3-2
Lecture: M7.30-9 (NORTH SHORE)
______
Introduces students to the personal challenges and competencies that are critical for effective leadership and communication. Explores how the personal development of cultural understanding, goal setting, time management, stress management and comprehensive fitness relate to leadership, officership, and the Army profession.
Fall: R. Amundson
Spring: R. Amundson
No textbook information available

MS.102 Introduction to the Profession of Arms
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
Prereq: None. Coreq: MS.101
Units: 1-3-2
Lecture: W8-9.30 (W59-159)
______
Introduces students to the professional challenges and competencies that are needed for effective execution of the profession of arms and Army communication. Explores how Army ethics and values shape the Army and the specific ways they are inculcated into Army culture. Investigates the Army leadership dimensions, attributes, and core competencies and gain practical experience using critical communication skills.
Fall: R. Amundson
Spring: R. Amundson
No textbook information available

MS.110 American Military History
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Lecture: T3-5 (W59-159)
______
Develops an understanding of the effects the US military and American society have on each other through thematic exploration of American military history in the context of broader US history, and military strategy and global involvement. Through readings, oral and written presentations, and exams, students describe the role of the US military, its evolution, and its impact on society and technology; and critically analyze an armed conflict using the principles of war.
S. Mcdonough
No textbook information available

MS.201 Leadership and Decision Making
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: MS.102 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-3-1
______
Familiarizes students with the professional practice of ethics within the Army by exploring Army values and ethics along with the fundamentals of leadership, personal development, and tactics at the small unit level. Explores ethical and tactical decision-making case studies. Students required to demonstrate writing skills and present information briefings as preparation for development in becoming successful future officers.
S. Baker

MS.202 Army Doctrine and Team Development
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: MS.201 or permission of instructor
Units: 2-3-1
Lecture: W6-8 (W59-147) Lab: F8-10 (NORTH SHORE)
______
Students practice and apply fundamentals of Army leadership, officership, Army values and ethics, personal development, and small unit tactics at the squad level. Provides systematic and specific feedback on individual leader attributes, values, and core leader competencies. Students demonstrate writing skills and present information briefings as preparation for development in becoming successful future officers.
S. Baker
No textbook information available

MS.301 Applied Team Leadership
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: MS.202 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-6-3
______
Develops student proficiency in planning and executing complex operations, functioning as a leader of small and medium sized teams, assessing operational environments, accepting prudent risk, and leading fellow students. Through assignment to leadership positions in the ROTC Battalion, students are directly responsible for the training, development, and well-being of underclass students assigned to their charge. Students learn how the Army operates and how to integrate the warfighting functions.
S. Mcclanahan

MS.302 Applied Leadership in Small Unit Operations
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: MS.301 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-6-3
Lecture: R8-11 (W59-147) Lab: W2-5 (W59-147)
______
Familiarizes students with group dynamics and how personal identity influences leadership. Students explore bases of power, influence tactics, and leadership self-assessments. Through assignment to leadership positions in the ROTC Battalion, students are responsible for the training, development, and well-being of underclass students. Students experiment with counseling, receive peer feedback, and explore elements of the Army Profession. Students build competence with the basics of maneuvering a platoon, the principles of patrolling including raids, recons, and ambushes.
S. Mcclanahan
No textbook information available

MS.401 Officership: Mission Command and the Army Officer
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: MS.302
Units: 3-6-3
______
Develops proficiency in planning and executing complex operations, functioning as a member of an organizational staff, assessing risk, making ethical decisions, and leading fellow students. Through assignment to leadership positions in the ROTC Battalion, students plan and lead the execution of labs, directing and controlling the corps of cadets, enhancing their oral and written communications, and improving their application of troop-leading procedures and problem solving.
T. Allen

MS.402 Officership: Mission Command and Company Grade Leadership
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: MS.401
Units: 3-6-3
Lecture: T7.30-9.30 (W59-147) Lab: R3-5 (NORTH SHORE)
______
Examines the US National Security Structure and how the Army operates as part of the joint force in a whole of government approach. Studies how various operational variables affect military operations. Through assignment to leadership positions, students actively plan and execute training within the program, direct and control an organization, enhance oral and written communications, and apply troop-leading procedures. Students also examine past leaders through a staff ride to the battlefields of Lexington and Concord.
T. Allen
No textbook information available


left arrow | MS.00-MS.499 | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Naval Science
IAP/Spring 2025

NS Home    IAP only
left arrow | NS.00-NS.499 | right arrow

ROTC subjects do not carry academic credit at MIT, but they can be counted toward the PE requirement. Up to two points per year with a maximum of four points.

Naval Science

NS.100 Naval Science Leadership Seminar
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with NS.200, NS.300, NS.400)
Prereq: None
Units: 0-2-2 [P/D/F]
Lecture: W6.30-8.30 (3-270)
______
Leadership seminar addresses professional issues of military leadership, ethics, foreign policy, internal affairs and naval warfare doctrine. Subject matter centers on preparation for commissioned service in the US Naval Forces by examining the role of the junior officer in the employment of naval power. Mostly student originated, the periods include panel discussions, practical applications, guest lecturers from academia, and speakers currently serving in deployed naval forces.
Fall: B. Connors
Spring: B. Connors
No required or recommended textbooks

NS.11 Introduction to Naval Science
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None. Coreq: NS.100
Units: 3-0-3
______
Introduction to Naval Science. General introduction to the US Navy and Marine Corps. Emphasizes organizational structure, warfare components, and assigned roles/missions of US Navy/USMC. Covers all aspects of naval service from its relative position within DOD, to specific warfare communities/career paths. Also includes basic elements of leadership/Navy core values. Designed to give student initial exposure to many elements of naval culture. Provides students with conceptual framework and working vocabulary. Completion of MIT NROTC Orientation Program strongly recommended.
R. Seiffert

NS.12 Seapower and Maritime Affairs
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR7.30-9 (W59-149)
______
A study of the US Navy and the influence of sea power upon history. Incorporates both a historical and political science process to explore the major events, attitudes, personalities, and circumstances which have imbued the US Navy with its proud history and rich tradition. Deals with issues of national imperatives in peacetime as well as war, varying maritime philosophies which were interpreted into naval strategies/doctrines, budgetary concerns which shaped force realities, and the pursuit of American diplomatic objectives, concluding with the current search for direction in the post-Cold War era and beyond.
R. Seiffert
No required or recommended textbooks

NS.200 Naval Science Leadership Seminar
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with NS.100, NS.300, NS.400)
Prereq: None
Units: 0-2-2 [P/D/F]
Lecture: W6.30-8.30 (3-270)
______
Leadership seminar addresses professional issues of military leadership, ethics, foreign policy, internal affairs and naval warfare doctrine. Subject matter centers on preparation for commissioned service in the US Naval Forces by examining the role of the junior officer in the employment of naval power. Mostly student originated, the periods include panel discussions, practical applications, guest lecturers from academia, and speakers currently serving in deployed naval forces.
Fall: Connors, Brendan Joseph
Spring: Connors, Brendan Joseph
No required or recommended textbooks

NS.21 Leadership and Management
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Explores leadership from the military perspective taught by professors of military science from the Army, Navy and Air Force. Survey of basic principles for successfully managing and leading people, particularly in public service and the military. Develops skills in topics such as oral and written communication techniques, planning, team building, motivation, ethics, decision-making, and managing change. Relies heavily on interactive experiential classes with case studies, student presentations, role plays, and discussion. Also appropriate for non-management science majors.
J. Huck

NS.22 Navigation
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: NS.11 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR7.30-9 (W59-051)
______
Comprehensive study of the theory, principles, and procedures of piloting and maritime navigation, including mathematics of navigation, practical work involving navigational instruments, sight reduction by <em>pro forma</em> and computerized methods, charts, publications, and voyage planning. CORTRAMID cruise recommended.
G. Davis
No required or recommended textbooks

NS.300 Naval Science Leadership Seminar
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with NS.100, NS.200, NS.400)
Prereq: None
Units: 0-2-4 [P/D/F]
Lecture: W6.30-8.30 (3-270)
______
Leadership seminar addresses professional issues of military leadership, ethics, foreign policy, internal affairs and naval warfare doctrine. Subject matter centers on preparation for commissioned service in the US Naval Forces by examining the role of the junior officer in the employment of naval power. Mostly student originated, the periods include panel discussions, practical applications, guest lecturers from academia, and speakers currently serving in deployed naval forces.
Fall: B. Connors
Spring: B. Connors
No required or recommended textbooks

NS.31 Naval Ships Systems I: Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Lecture series on technological fundamentals of applied and planned naval ships Systems from an engineering viewpoint. Topics include stability, propulsion, ship control and systems.
M. Monahan

NS.32 Naval Ship Systems II Weapons
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: NS.31 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR7.30-9 (W59-172)
______
Overview of the properties and behavior of electromagnetic radiation pertaining to maritime applications. Topics include communications, radar detection, electro-optics, tracking and guidance systems. Sonar and underwater sound propagation also discussed. Examples taken from systems found on naval ships and aircraft. Selected readings on naval weapons and fire control systems. Physics I (GIR) and Calculus II (GIR) recommended.
M. Monahan
No required or recommended textbooks

NS.33 Evolution of Warfare
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
______
Traces development of warfare from dawn of recorded history to present, focusing on the impact of major military theorists, strategists, tacticians, and technological developments. Seeks to understand the relationships between military training, weaponry, strategies and tactics, and the societies and cultures that produce and then are defended by those military structures. By examining the association between a society and its military, students acquire basic sense of strategy, develop an understanding of military alternatives, and see the impact of historical precedents on military thoughts and actions.
Staff

NS.400 Naval Science Leadership Seminar
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
(Subject meets with NS.100, NS.200, NS.300)
Prereq: None
Units: 0-2-4 [P/D/F]
Lecture: W6.30-8.30 (3-270)
______
Leadership seminar addresses professional issues of military leadership, ethics, foreign policy, internal affairs and naval warfare doctrine. Subject matter centers on preparation for commissioned service in the US Naval Forces by examining the role of the junior officer in the employment of naval power. Mostly student originated, the periods include panel discussions, practical applications, guest lecturers from academia, and speakers currently serving in deployed naval forces.
Fall: B. Connors
Spring: B. Connors
No required or recommended textbooks

NS.41 Navigation and Naval Operations
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: NS.22 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-6
______
Comprehensive study of tactical and strategic considerations to the employment of naval forces, including communications, tactical formations and dispositions, relative motion, maneuvering board, and nautical rules of the road.
M. Monahan

NS.42 Leadership and Ethics
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: NS.21
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR7.30-9 (W59-172)
______
Analyzes ethical decision-making and leadership principles. Students read and discuss texts written by such philosophers as Aristotle, Kant, and Mill to gain familiarity with the realm of ethical theory. Students then move on to case studies in which they apply these theories to resolve moral dilemmas. Provides a basic background in the duties and responsibilities of a junior division and watch officer; strong emphasis on the junior officer's responsibilities in training, counseling, and career development. Student familiarization with equal opportunity and drug/alcohol rehabilitation programs. Principles of leadership reinforced through leadership case studies.
J. Houdeshell
No required or recommended textbooks

NS.43 Fundamentals of Maneuver Warfare
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-6
Lecture: TR7.30-9 (W59-164)
______
Introduces the United States Marine Corps' historical operating concepts as well as the employment of current doctrine known as "maneuver warfare." Utilizes historical examples from past military campaigns, as well as the current Marine Corps' doctrine and philosophy, to increase the student's critical thinking and decision-making ability. Aims to create future leaders capable of identifying and solving complex problems in future operating environments across the spectrum of conflict. Module one outlines the fundamental concepts, themes, and historical conflicts involving and relating to maneuver warfare. Module two articulates and describes the Marine Corps' current warfighting doctrine. Module three describes the Marine Corps' future operating concept and advancement of warfighting doctrine.
B. Connors
No textbook information available


left arrow | NS.00-NS.499 | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Science, Technology, and Society
IAP/Spring 2025


Undergraduate Subjects


Tier I Subjects

STS.001 Technology in American History
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
A survey of America's transition from a rural, agrarian, and artisan society to one of the world's leading industrial powers. Treats the emergence of industrial capitalism: the rise of the factory system; new forms of power, transport, and communication; the advent of the large industrial corporation; the social relations of production; and the hallmarks of science-based industry. Views technology as part of the larger culture and reveals innovation as a process consisting of a range of possibilities that are chosen or rejected according to the social criteria of the time.
D. A. Mindell

STS.002 Finance and Society
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines finance as a social technology intended to improve economic opportunity by moving capital to where it is most needed. Surveys the history of modern finance, from medieval Italy to the Great Depression, while addressing credit, finance and state (and imperial) power, global financial interconnection, and financial crises. Explores modern finance (since about 1950) from a variety of historical and social-scientific perspectives, covering quant finance, financialization, the crisis of 2007-2008, and finance in the digital age. Enrollment limited.
W. Deringer

STS.003 Ancient Greeks to Modern Geeks: A History of Science
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers the development of major fields in the physical and life sciences, from 18th-century Europe through 20th-century America. Examines ideas, institutions, and the social settings of the sciences, with emphasis on how cultural contexts influence scientific concepts and practices.
W. Deringer and E. Nelson

STS.004 Intersections: Science, Technology, and the World
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Exposes students to multidisciplinary studies in Science, Technology, and Society (STS), using four case studies to illustrate a broad range of approaches to basic principles of STS studies. Case studies vary from year to year, but always include a current MIT event. Other topics are drawn from legal and political conflicts, and arts and communication media. Includes guest presenters, discussion groups, field activities, visual media, and a practicum style of learning. Enrollment limited.
D. Kaiser

STS.005[J] Data and Society
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 11.155[J], IDS.057[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces students to the social, political, and ethical aspects of data science work. Designed to create reflective practitioners who are able to think critically about how collecting, aggregating, and analyzing data are social processes and processes that affect people.
E. Medina, S. Williams

STS.006[J] Bioethics
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 24.06[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Considers ethical questions that have arisen from the growth of biomedical research and the health-care industry since World War II. Should doctors be allowed to help patients end their lives? If so, when and how? Should embryos be cloned for research and/or reproduction? Should parents be given control over the genetic make-up of their children? What types of living things are appropriate to use as research subjects? How should we distribute scarce and expensive medical resources? Draws on philosophy, history, and anthropology to show how problems in bioethics can be approached from a variety of perspectives.
R. Scheffler, M. Masny

STS.008 Technology and Experience
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introduces the "inner history" of technology: how it affects intimate aspects of human experience from sociological, psychological and anthropological perspectives. Topics vary, but may include how the internet transforms our experience of time, space, privacy, and social engagement; how entertainment media affects attention, creativity, aesthetics and emotion; how innovations in wearable and textile technologies reshape notions of history and identity; how pharmaceuticals reshape identity, mood, pain, and pleasure. Includes in-class discussion of readings, short written and multimedia assignments, final project. Enrollment limited.
Staff

STS.009 Evolution and Society
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides a broad conceptual and historical introduction to scientific theories of evolution and their place in the wider culture. Embraces historical, scientific and anthropological/cultural perspectives grounded in relevant developments in the biological sciences since 1800 that are largely responsible for the development of the modern theory of evolution by natural selection. Students read key texts, analyze key debates (e.g. Darwinian debates in the 19th century, and the creation controversies in the 20th century) and give class presentations.
J. Durant, R. Scheffler

STS.011 Engineering Life: Biotechnology and Society
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides instruction in the history of humanity's efforts to control and shape life through biotechnology, from agriculture to gene editing. Examines the technologies, individuals and socio-economic systems that are associated with such efforts, as well as the impact that these efforts have on society and science as a whole. Explores these issues with particular attention to the development of the modern biotechnology industry in the Greater Boston area. Includes a field trip.
R. W. Scheffler

STS.012[J] Science in Action: Technologies and Controversies in Everyday Life
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as WGS.120[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://sts-program.mit.edu/academics/subjects/sts012-sp25/
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (E51-361)
______
Explores a range of controversies about the role of technology, the nature of scientific research and the place of politics in science: debates about digital piracy and privacy, the role of activism in science, the increasingly unclear boundaries between human and non-human, the role of MRIs as courtroom evidence, the potential influence of gender on scientific research, etc. Provides exposure to science in a dynamic relation with social life and cultural ideas. Materials draw from humanities and social science research, ethnographic fieldwork, films and science podcasts, as well as from experimental multimedia. Enrollment limited.
D. Banerjee
No textbook information available

STS.014 Embodied Education: Past, Present, Future
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Discusses recent scientific and educational research that finds that the human body in motion is a medium for learning. Explores how and why physical education was integrated into the US educational system while remaining separate from academic subjects — and how and why 21st-century institutions might combine the two. Weekly in-lecture labs demonstrate how exercise can inform academic instruction and invite students to create future curricula. Students who enroll in this class may receive both HASS-S credit for it and may enroll to earn two Physical Education and Wellness (PE&W) points. Limited to 20.
J. S. Light, DAPER Instructors


Tier II Subjects

STS.021[J] Science Activism: Gender, Race, and Power
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Elective
(Same subject as WGS.160[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the role scientists have played as activists in social movements in the US following World War II. Themes include scientific responsibility and social justice, the motivation of individual scientists, strategies for organizing, the significance of race and gender, and scientists' impact within social movements. Case studies include atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons and the nuclear freeze campaign, climate science and environmental justice, the civil rights movement, Vietnam War protests, the March 4 movement at MIT, and concerns about genetic engineering, gender equality, intersectional feminism, and student activism at MIT.
E. Bertschinger

STS.022[J] Gender, Race, and Environmental Justice
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.407[J], 21G.057[J], WGS.275[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides an introduction to the analysis of gender in science, technology, and environmental politics from a global perspective. Familiarizes students with central objects, questions, and methods in the field. Examines existent critiques of the racial, sexual and environmental politics at stake in techno-scientific cultures. Draws on material from popular culture, media, fiction, film, and ethnography. Addressing specific examples from across the globe, students also explore different approaches to build more livable environments that promote social justice. Taught in English. Limited to 18.
B. Stoetzer

STS.023[J] Science, Gender and Social Inequality in the Developing World
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as WGS.226[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the influence of social and cultural determinants (colonialism, nationalism, class, and gender) on modern science and technology. Discusses the relationship of scientific progress to colonial expansions and nationalist aspirations. Explores the nature of scientific institutions within a social, cultural, and political context, and how science and technology have impacted developing societies
A. Sur

STS.024[J] Thinking on Your Feet: Dance as a Learning Science
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Arts
(Same subject as CMS.524[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the past, present, and future of dance as a learning science. Combines readings and discussion with experiential learning. Readings span the science of movement and learning, studies of educational dance, and research on school reform. Lab exercises led by guest artists introduce the rich possibilities of dance for teaching subjects across the curriculum. For their final project, students choreograph a lesson on a topic of their choosing. This is an introductory class; no dance background is required. Limited to 20 students.
J. S. Light

STS.025[J] Making the Modern World: The Industrial Revolution in Global Perspective
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.285[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Global survey of the great transformation in history known as the "Industrial Revolution." Topics include origins of mechanized production, the factory system, steam propulsion, electrification, mass communications, mass production and automation. Emphasis on the transfer of technology and its many adaptations around the world. Countries treated include Great Britain, France, Germany, the US, Sweden, Russia, Japan, China, and India. Includes brief reflection papers and a final paper.
M. R. Smith

STS.026 History of Manufacturing in America
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with STS.425)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Introductory survey of fundamental innovations and transitions in American manufacturing from the colonial period to the mid-twentieth century. Primary emphasis on textiles and metalworking, with particular attention to the role of the machine tool industry in the American manufacturing economy. Students taking graduate version are expected to explore the material in greater depth.
M. R. Smith

STS.027[J] The Civil War and the Emergence of Modern America: 1861-1890
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 21H.205[J])
(Subject meets with STS.427)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Using the American Civil War as a baseline, considers what it means to become "modern" by exploring the war's material and manpower needs, associated key technologies, and how both influenced the United States' entrance into the age of "Big Business." Readings include material on steam transportation, telegraphic communications, arms production, naval innovation, food processing, medicine, public health, management methods, and the mass production of everything from underwear to uniforms – all essential ingredients of modernity. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
M. R. Smith

STS.028 Seven Wonders of the Engineering World
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Uses case studies to take a broad-ranging look at seven major engineering achievements in world history. Examines the nature of engineering as a source of knowledge production/application, how it reflects the cultural settings in which it emerges, and how it changes as it enters different cultural and economic settings. Includes weekly reflection papers. Achievements covered vary from term to term. Limited to 20.
M. R. Smith

STS.030 Forensic History: Problem Solving into the Past
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores new pathways to use the latest science and technologies to understand the past. Working like detectives, students draw on research methods from such fields as climate science, geology, molecular biology, proteomics, DNA testing, carbon dating and big data analysis to invent their own forensic historical research techniques. They also study new narrative forms to accompany novel research techniques. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Enrollment limited.
K. Brown

STS.031[J] Environment and History
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 12.386[J], 21H.185[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Focusing on the period from 1500 to the present, explores the influence of climate, topography, plants, animals, and microorganisms on human history and the reciprocal influence of people on the environment. Topics include the European encounter with the Americas, the impact of modern technology, and the current environmental crisis. Enrollment limited.
Staff

STS.032 Energy, Environment, and Society
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://news.mit.edu/2021/diving-into-global-problem-technology-waste-0615
______
Uses a problem-solving, multi-disciplinary, and multicultural approach that takes energy beyond the complex circuits, grids, and kilojoules to the realm of everyday life, with ordinary people as practitioners and producers of energy knowledge, infrastructures, and technologies. The three main objectives are to immerse students in the historical, cultural, multi-cultural, and entrepreneurial aspects of energy across the world to make them better energy engineers; to introduce them to research and analytical methods; and to deploy these methods and their various skills to solve/design a solution, in groups, to a specific energy problem chosen by the students. Each cohort tackles a different energy problem. Provides instruction on how to be active shapers of the world and to bring students' various disciplinary skills and cultural diversity into dialogue as conceptual tools for problem-solving. Enrollment limited.
C. Mavhunga

STS.033[J] People and the Planet: Environmental Histories and Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Elective
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 11.004[J])
(Subject meets with 11.204[J], IDS.524[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Explores historical and cultural aspects of complex environmental problems and engineering approaches to sustainable solutions. Introduces quantitative analyses and methodological tools to understand environmental issues that have human and natural components. Demonstrates concepts through a series of historical and cultural analyses of environmental challenges and their engineering responses. Builds writing, quantitative modeling, and analytical skills in assessing environmental systems problems and developing engineering solutions. Through environmental data gathering and analysis, students engage with the challenges and possibilities of engineering in complex, interacting systems, and investigate plausible, symbiotic, systems-oriented solutions. Students taking graduate version complete additional analysis of reading assignments and a more in-depth and longer final paper. 
Staff

STS.034 Science Communication: A Practical Guide
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://sts-program.mit.edu/academics/subjects/sts034-sp25/
Lecture: MW2.30-4 (E28-330)
______
Develops students' abilities to communicate about science and technology effectively and to analyze science communication in a variety of real-world contexts. Considers tools, media, and strategies to engage polarized publics, audiences, and communities traditionally excluded from scientific discussions. Provides a theoretical and practical background in science communication — from citizen science, podcasts, and AI to art, science slams, and exhibitions — culminating in the development of a final science communication project to be presented in the MIT Museum. Enrollment limited.
M. J. Gorman
No required or recommended textbooks

STS.035 Exhibiting Science
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: One CI-H/CI-HW subject and permission of instructor
Units: 2-2-8
URL: http://exhibitingscience.mit.edu
______
Project-based seminar covers key topics in museum communication, including science learning in informal settings, the role of artifacts and interactives, and exhibit evaluation. Students work on a term-long project, organized around the design, fabrication, and installation of an original multimedia exhibit about current scientific research at MIT. Culminates with the project's installation in the MIT Museum's Mark Epstein Innovation Gallery. Limited to 20; preference to students who have taken STS.034.
J. Durant

STS.036 Science in American Life: 1920-2020
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Assesses the place of science in American public life from the 1920s to the present. Takes a historically inflected approach to examine the social relations of science in the modern United States. Examines science and (in turn) religion, warfare, health, education, the environment, and human rights to explore how an international leader in science is also home to some of the developed world's most persistent forms of "science denialism." Examples include the denial of evolution, human-induced climate change, and particular medical-scientific aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
J. Durant

STS.038 Risky Business: Food Production, Environment, and Health
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 2-1-9
______
Follows the shifts in food production between small-holder, local production to large-scale industries and back again to "localvore" food production in the 19th and 20th centuries. Tracks how people grew anxious about health risks associated with modern food over time. In a weekly lab, students build a compost production facility and/or a segment of a perennial food forest. Discusses food politics, food security and justice, food sustainability and safety, and first steps in growing one's own food. Limited to 25.
K. Brown

STS.039 History of Native Science
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: W EVE (7-10 PM) (E51-385)
______
Tracks the history of Indigenous knowledge and engagements with colonial US and settler science. Explores traditional ecological knowledge, naturalized knowledge systems, and decolonized research methods — among other frameworks — and how the field of Native science came to be. Introduces critical STS and Indigenous methods for translating and engaging Indigenous knowledge and history, and traces how science and indignity have been entangled through colonial and decolonial practice. Presents how Native science has been a galvanizing force for international research and policy on everything from climate science to genetics.
E. Nelson
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

STS.040 A Global History of Commodities
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Inspires students to think about production chains in ways that reflect their impact on the environment, labor practices, and human health. Examines how commodities connect distant places through a chain of relationships, and link people, e.g., enslaved African producers with middle-class American consumers, and Asian factory workers with Europeans taking a holiday on the beach. Studies how mass production and mass demand for commodities, such as real estate, bananas, rubber, corn, and beef, in the 20th century changed the way people worked, lived, and saw themselves as they adopted new technologies to produce and consume in radically different ways from their parents and grandparents. Assignments include creation of a board game for buying and selling real estate in Boston, a two-minute mini-documentary, and an article on a commodity and country. Limited to 25.
K. Brown

STS.041 Exercise is Medicine: From Ancient Civilizations to Modern Health Care Systems
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 2-1-9
URL: https://sts-program.mit.edu/academics/subjects/sts041-sp24/
Lecture: T11-12.30 (5-234) Lab: R11-12.30 (24-115) or R1-2.30 (24-115)
______
Explores the history of exercise in preventing and curing physical and mental illness. Combines readings and discussion with experiential learning. Doing Yoga and Qigong alongside readings on Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine enables students to viscerally experience concepts in medical history such as prana and chi; activities including Pilates and High Intensity Interval Training deepen students' understanding of the challenges integrating scientific discovery into everyday life. Students who enroll in this class may receive both HASS-S credit for it and may enroll to earn two Physical Education and Wellness (PE&W) points. Enrollment limited.
J. S. Light and C. S. Moore
No required or recommended textbooks

STS.042[J] Einstein, Oppenheimer, Feynman: Physics in the 20th Century
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
(Same subject as 8.225[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Explores the changing roles of physics and physicists during the 20th century. Topics range from relativity theory and quantum mechanics to high-energy physics and cosmology. Examines the development of modern physics within shifting institutional, cultural, and political contexts, such as physics in Imperial Britain, Nazi Germany, US efforts during World War II, and physicists' roles during the Cold War. Enrollment limited.
D. I. Kaiser

STS.043 Technology and Self: Science, Technology, and Memoir
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with STS.443)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
______
Focuses on the memoir as a window onto the relationship of creative people (scientists, engineers, designers, and others) to their work. Examines how class, race, ethnicity, family history, and trauma shape the person who shapes artifacts, experiments, and ideas. Readings explore the connection between material culture, identity, and personal development. Offers the opportunity, if desired, to examine personal experiences and write memoir fragments. Students taking graduate version write a longer final paper. Limited to 15; no listeners.
S. Turkle

STS.044 Technology and Self: Things and Thinking
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Subject meets with STS.444)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
______
Explores emotional and intellectual impact of objects. The growing literature on cognition and "things" cuts across anthropology, history, social theory, literature, sociology, and psychology and is of great relevance to science students. Examines the range of theories, from Mary Douglas in anthropology to D. W. Winnicott in psychoanalytic thinking, that underlies "thing" or "object" analysis. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 15; no listeners.
S. Turkle

STS.046[J] The Science of Race, Sex, and Gender
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.103[J], WGS.225[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the role of science and medicine in the origins and evolution of the concepts of race, sex, and gender from the 17th century to the present. Focus on how biological, anthropological, and medical concepts intersect with social, cultural, and political ideas about racial, sexual, and gender difference in the US and globally. Approach is historical and comparative across disciplines emphasizing the different modes of explanation and use of evidence in each field.
A. Sur

STS.047 Quantifying People: A History of Social Science
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://news.mit.edu/2019/mit-quest-to-understand-human-society-scientifically-quantifying-people-0430
______
Historical examination of the quest to understand human society scientifically. Focuses on quantification, including its central role in the historical development of social science and its importance in the 21st-century data age. Covers the political arithmetic of the 17th century to the present. Emphasizes intensive reading of primary sources, which represent past attempts to count, calculate, measure, and model many dimensions of human social life (population, wealth, health, happiness, intelligence, crime, deviance, race). Limited to 25.
W. Deringer

STS.048 African Americans in Science, Technology, and Medicine
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
A survey of the contributions of African Americans to science, technology, and medicine from colonial times to the present. Explores the impact of concepts, trends, and developments in science, technology, and medicine on the lives of African Americans. Examples include the eugenics movement, the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, the debate surrounding racial inheritance, and IQ testing.
K. Manning

STS.049 The Long War Against Cancer
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: MW1 (3-370) Recitation: F1 (3-442, 1-277)
______
Examines anticancer efforts as a critical area for the formation of contemporary biomedical explanations for health and disease. Begins with the premise that the most significant implications of these efforts extend far beyond the success or failure of individual cancer therapies. Considers developments in the epidemiology, therapy, and politics of cancer. Uses the history of cancer to connect the history of biology and medicine to larger social and cultural developments, including those in bioethics, race, gender, activism, markets, and governance.
R. W. Scheffler
No required or recommended textbooks

STS.050 The History of MIT
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://sts-program.mit.edu/academics/subjects/sts050-sp25/
Lecture: TR2.30-4 (E28-330)
______
Examines the history of MIT, from its founding to the present, through the lens of the history of science and technology. Topics include William Barton Rogers; the modern research university and educational philosophy; campus, intellectual, and organizational development; changing laboratories and practices; MIT's relationship with Boston, the federal government, and industry; and notable activities and achievements of students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Includes guest lecturers, on-campus field trips, and interactive exercises. Enrollment limited.
D. Douglas
No required or recommended textbooks

STS.051 Documenting MIT Communities
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
______
Researches the history and culture of an MIT community to contribute to its documentation and preservation. Through the practice of doing original research, students learn about the history of an MIT community. Provides instruction in the methods historians use to document the past, as well as methods from related fields. Enrollment limited.
J. Medina

STS.053 Multidisciplinary Interactive Learning Through Problem-Solving
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Elective
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Interdisciplinary problem-solving at the intersection of humanities, science, engineering, and business. Team-taught face-to-face classes at multiple US and African universities connected live via Zoom. Divided into four sections/assessments: US and African histories, cultures, politics, and development relations; HASS as a problem-solving tool; STEM applications to real-life problem-solving; and introduction to summer field-class sites or exchange programs. Goal is to equip students with skills for team-based trans-disciplinary and cross-cultural problem-solving.
C. C. Mavhunga

STS.055[J] Living Dangerously: Environmental Problems from 1900 to Today
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 12.384[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: WF11.30-1 (54-915)
______
Historical overview of the interactions between people and their environments in the past 100 years. Focuses on the accelerating human impact on Earth, starting in the late 19th century and continuing to the present day. Covers case studies showing how people have become aware of their impacts on the environment, and, in turn, the environment's impacts upon human society and what humans have done to mitigate damages. Topics include: food safety and security, industrial agriculture, pesticides, nuclear energy and warfare, lead, smog, ozone depletion, and climate change. Limited to 18.
S. Solomon, K. Brown
No textbook information available

STS.060[J] The Anthropology of Biology
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.303[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Applies the tools of anthropology to examine biology in the age of genomics, biotechnological enterprise, biodiversity conservation, pharmaceutical bioprospecting, and synthetic biology. Examines such social concerns such as bioterrorism, genetic modification, and cloning. Offers an anthropological inquiry into how the substances and explanations of biology — ecological, organismic, cellular, molecular, genetic, informatic — are changing. Examines such artifacts as cell lines, biodiversity databases, and artificial life models, and using primary sources in biology, social studies of the life sciences, and literary and cinematic materials, asks how we might answer Erwin Schrodinger's 1944 question, "What Is Life?", today.
S. Helmreich

STS.064[J] DV Lab: Documenting Science through Video and New Media
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 21A.550[J])
(Subject meets with 21A.559)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
______
Uses documentary video making as a tool to explore everyday social worlds (including those of science and engineering), and for thinking analytically about media itself. Students make videos and engage in critical analysis. Provides students with instruction on how to communicate effectively and creatively in a visual medium, and how to articulate their own analyses of documentary images in writing and spoken word. Readings drawn from documentary film theory, anthropology, and social studies of science. Students view a wide variety of classic documentaries and explore different styles. Lab component devoted to digital video production. Includes a final video project. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 12.
C. Walley, C. Boebel

STS.065[J] The Anthropology of Sound
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.505[J], CMS.406[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Examines the ways humans experience sound and how perceptions and technologies of sound emerge from cultural, economic, and historical worlds. Consider how the sound/noise/music boundaries have been imagined, created, and modeled across sociocultural and historical contexts. Learn how environmental, linguistic, and musical sounds are construed cross-culturally as well as the rise of telephony, architectural acoustics, sound recording, multi-channel and spatial mix performance, and the globalized travel of these technologies. Questions of sound ownership, property, authorship, remix, and copyright in the digital age are also addressed.
I. Condry

STS.074[J] Art, Craft, Science
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.501[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21A.509, STS.474
______
Examines how people learn, practice, and evaluate traditional and contemporary craft techniques. Social science theories of design, embodiment, apprenticeship learning, skill, labor, expertise, and tacit knowledge are used to explore distinctions among art, craft, and science. Also discusses the commoditization of craft into market goods, collectible art, and tourism industries. Ethnographic and historical case studies include textiles, Shaker furniture, glassblowing, quilting, cheesemaking, industrial design, home and professional cooking, factory and laboratory work, CAD/CAM. Demonstrations, optional field trips, and/or hands-on craft projects may be included. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
F. Rossi

STS.075[J] Technology and Culture
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.500[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
URL: https://anthropology.mit.edu/21A.500J_STS.075J_Technology_and_Culture
Lecture: R11-1 (32-141)
______
Examines the intersections of technology, culture, and politics in a variety of social and historical settings ranging from 19th-century factories to 21st-century techno dance floors, from Victorian London to anything-goes Las Vegas. Discussions and readings organized around three questions: what cultural effects and risks follow from treating biology as technology; how computers have changed the way we think about ourselves and others; and how politics are built into our infrastructures. Explores the forces behind technological and cultural change; how technological and cultural artifacts are understood and used by different communities; and whether, in what ways, and for whom technology has produced a better world. Limited to 50.
Fall: M. Thompson
Spring: H. Beltran
No textbook information available

STS.080[J] Youth Political Participation
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Same subject as 11.151[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys youth political participation in the US since the early 1800s. Investigates trends in youth political activism during specific historical periods, as well as what difference youth media production and technology use (e.g., radio, music, automobiles, ready-made clothing) made in determining the course of events. Explores what is truly new about "new media" and reviews lessons from history for present-day activists based on patterns of past failure and success. Some mandatory field trips may occur during class time. Limited to 40.
J. S. Light

STS.081[J] Innovation Systems for Science, Technology, Energy, Manufacturing, and Health
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 17.395[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-7
______
Examines science and technology innovation systems, including case studies on energy, computing, advanced manufacturing, and health sectors. Emphasizes public policy and the federal government's role in that system. Focuses on the US but uses international examples. Reviews foundations of economic growth theory, innovation systems theory, and the basic approaches to science and technology policy. Explores the organization and role of energy and medical science R&D agencies, as well as gaps in those innovation systems. Also addresses the science and technology talent base as a factor in growth, and educational approaches to better support it. Class meets for nine weeks; in the remaining weeks, students work on a final paper due at the end of the term. Limited to 25.
W. B. Bonvillian

STS.082[J] Science, Technology, and Public Policy
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences Communication Intensive HASS
(Same subject as 17.309[J], IDS.055[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 17.310, IDS.412, STS.482
______
Analysis of issues at the intersection of science, technology, public policy, and business. Cases drawn from antitrust and intellectual property rights; health and environmental policy; defense procurement and strategy; strategic trade and industrial policy; and R&D funding. Structured around theories of political economy, modified to take into account integration of uncertain technical information into public and private decision-making. Meets with 17.310 when offered concurrently.
Staff

STS.083 Computers and Social Change
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Provides instruction on how people have historically connected computers to ideas on social, economic, and political change and how these ideas have changed over time. Based on a series of case studies from different parts of the world. Explores topics such as how computers have intertwined with ideas on work, freedom, governance, and access to knowledge. Limited to 25.
E. Medina

STS.084[J] Social Problems of Nuclear Energy
______

Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 22.04[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Surveys the major social challenges for nuclear energy. Topics include the ability of nuclear power to help mitigate climate change; challenges associated with ensuring nuclear safety; the effects of nuclear accidents; the management of nuclear waste; the linkages between nuclear power and nuclear weapons, the consequences of nuclear war; and political challenges to the safe and economic regulation of the nuclear industry. Weekly readings presented from both sides of the debate, followed by in-class discussions. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Limited to 18.
R. Kemp

STS.085[J] Foundations of Information Policy
______

Not offered academic year 2025-2026Undergrad (Fall) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 6.4590[J])
(Subject meets with STS.487)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Studies the growth of computer and communications technology and the new legal and ethical challenges that reflect tensions between individual rights and societal needs. Topics include computer crime; intellectual property restrictions on software; encryption, privacy, and national security; academic freedom and free speech. Students meet and question technologists, activists, law enforcement agents, journalists, and legal experts. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited.
H. Abelson, M. Fischer, D. Weitzner

STS.086[J] Cultures of Computing
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) HASS Social Sciences
(Same subject as 21A.504[J], WGS.276[J])
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
URL: https://anthropology.mit.edu/21A.504J_STS.086J_WGS.276J_Cultures_of_Computing_Spring_2024
______
Examines computers anthropologically, as artifacts revealing the social orders and cultural practices that create them. Students read classic texts in computer science along with cultural analyses of computing history and contemporary configurations. Explores the history of automata, automation and capitalist manufacturing; cybernetics and WWII operations research; artificial intelligence and gendered subjectivity; robots, cyborgs, and artificial life; creation and commoditization of the personal computer; the growth of the Internet as a military, academic, and commercial project; hackers and gamers; technobodies and virtual sociality. Emphasis is placed on how ideas about gender and other social differences shape labor practices, models of cognition, hacking culture, and social media.
D. Banerjee

STS.087 Biography in Science
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Fall) HASS Humanities
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
An examination of biography as a literary genre to be employed in the history of science. The use of biography in different historical periods to illuminate aspects of the development of science. A critical analysis of autobiography, archival sources, and the oral tradition as materials in the construction of biographies of scientists. Published biographies of scientists constitute the major reading, but attention is given to unpublished biographical sources as well. Comparison is drawn between biography as a literary form in the history of science and in other disciplines.
K. Manning

STS.088 Africa for Engineers
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Humanities
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
______
Covers historical, cultural, and ethical dimensions of engineering in Africa. Focuses on construction of big projects like cities, hydroelectricity dams, roads, railway lines, ports and harbors, transport and communication, mines, industrial processing plant, and plantations. Explores the contributions of big capital, engineers, politicians, and ordinary people. Emphasizes how local culture, politics, labor, and knowledge affect engineering. Also focuses on environmental and cultural impact assessment. Prepares students who wish to work or study in Africa and the Global South. Enrollment limited.
C. Mavhunga

STS.095, STS.096 Independent Study in Science, Technology, and Society
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
STS.095: TBA.
STS.096: TBA.
______
For students who wish to pursue special studies or projects with a member of the Program in Science, Technology, and Society. STS.095 is letter-graded; STS.096 is P/D/F.
Fall: K. Brown
IAP: K. Brown
Spring: K. Brown
STS.095: No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)
STS.096: No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)


Discovery-focused


Special Subjects

STS.S20 Special Subject: Science, Technology and Society
______

Undergrad (Fall) Can be repeated for credit
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units arranged
Subject Cancelled STS.S20 Cancelled
______
Addresses subject matter in Science, Technology and Society that is not offered in the regular curriculum.
Staff

STS.S21 Special Subject: Science, Technology and Society
______

Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
URL: STS.S21: https://sts-program.mit.edu/academics/subjects/stss21-sp25/
STS.S21: Lecture: TR1-2.30 (E51-085)
______
Addresses subject matter in Science, Technology and Society that is not offered in the regular curriculum.
O. Rollins
STS.S21: No required or recommended textbooks

STS.S22 Special Subject: Science, Technology and Society
(New)
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
Subject Cancelled Subject Cancelled
______
Addresses subject matter in Science, Technology and Society that is not offered in the regular curriculum.
Staff

STS.S23 Special Subject: Science, Technology and Society
(New)
______

Undergrad (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
URL: IAP URL: https://sts-program.mit.edu/academics/subjects/stss20-iap25/
______
Addresses subject matter in Science, Technology and Society that is not offered in the regular curriculum.
C. C. Mavhunga
No textbook information available


Research

STS.095, STS.096 Independent Study in Science, Technology, and Society
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
STS.095: TBA.
STS.096: TBA.
______
For students who wish to pursue special studies or projects with a member of the Program in Science, Technology, and Society. STS.095 is letter-graded; STS.096 is P/D/F.
Fall: K. Brown
IAP: K. Brown
Spring: K. Brown
STS.095: No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)
STS.096: No textbook information available (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

STS.UR Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in the STS Program.
Fall: K. Brown
IAP: K. Brown
Spring: K. Gardner
Textbooks arranged individually (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

STS.URG Undergraduate Research
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in the STS Program.
Fall: K. Brown
IAP: K. Brown
Spring: K. Gardner
Textbooks arranged individually (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)

STS.THT Undergraduate Thesis Tutorial
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Definition and early-stage work on thesis project leading to STS.THU. Taken during first term of student's two-term commitment to thesis project. Student works closely with STS faculty tutor. Required of all candidates for an STS degree.
Fall: K. Brown
Spring: K. Brown
No required or recommended textbooks

STS.THU Undergraduate Thesis
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: STS.THT
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Completion of work of the senior major thesis under the supervision of a faculty tutor. Includes gathering materials, preparing draft chapters, giving an oral presentation of thesis progress to faculty evaluators early in the term, and writing and revising the final text. Students meet at the end of the term with faculty evaluators to discuss the successes and limitations of the project. Required of all candidates for an STS degree.
Fall: K. Brown
IAP: K. Brown
Spring: K. Brown
Textbooks arranged individually (IAP 2025); No required or recommended textbooks (Spring 2025)


left arrow | Undergraduate: STS.001-STS.100
plus STS.THT and STS.THU
| Graduate: STS.210-STS.910
plus STS.THG
| right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Engineering School-Wide Electives
IAP/Spring 2025

    IAP only
left arrow | SWE | right arrow

System Design and Management for a Changing World: Combined
______

Graduate (Fall)
(Offered under: 1.146, 16.861, EM.422, IDS.332)
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______
Practical-oriented subject that builds upon theory and methods and culminates in extended application. Covers methods to identify, value, and implement flexibility in design (real options). Topics include definition of uncertainties, simulation of performance for scenarios, screening models to identify desirable flexibility, decision analysis, and multidimensional economic evaluation. Students demonstrate proficiency through an extended application to a system design of their choice. Complements research or thesis projects. Class is "flipped" to maximize student engagement and learning. Meets with IDS.333 in the first half of term. Enrollment limited.
R. de Neufville

Ethics for Engineers
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring)
(Offered under: 1.082, 2.900, 6.9320, 10.01, 16.676)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-4
Lecture: M3-5 (66-148) or T3-5 (66-148) or W3-5 (66-148) or W EVE (7-9 PM) (66-148)
______
Explores how to be an ethical engineer. Students examine engineering case studies alongside key readings by foundational ethical thinkers from Aristotle to Martin Luther King, Jr., and investigate which ethical approaches are best and how to apply them. Topics include justice, rights, cost-benefit analysis, safety, bias, genetic engineering, climate change, and the promise and peril of AI. Discussion-based, with the aim of introducing students to new ways of thinking. All sections cover the same core ethical frameworks, but some sections have a particular focus for case studies, such as bioengineering, or have an in-depth emphasis on particular thinkers. The subject is taught in separate sections. Students are eligible to take any section regardless of their registered subject number. For 20.005, students additionally undertake an ethical-technical analysis of a BE-related topic of their choosing.
Fall: B. L. Trout, P. Hansen, D. Lauffenburger, K. Hansen
Spring: P. Hansen, L. Guarente, D. Lauffenburger, K. Hansen
No textbook information available

Introduction to Modeling and Simulation
______

Undergrad (Spring) Rest Elec in Sci & Tech
(Offered under: 1.021, 3.021, 10.333, 22.00)
Prereq: 18.03 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Lecture: TR3-4.30 (4-231) Recitation: W3 (4-153)
______
Basic concepts of computer modeling and simulation in science and engineering. Uses techniques and software for simulation, data analysis and visualization. Continuum, mesoscale, atomistic and quantum methods used to study fundamental and applied problems in physics, chemistry, materials science, mechanics, engineering, and biology. Examples drawn from the disciplines above are used to understand or characterize complex structures and materials, and complement experimental observations.
M. Buehler, A. Hoffman
No textbook information available

Management in Engineering
______

Undergrad (Fall)
(Offered under: 2.96, 6.9360, 10.806, 16.653)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-1-8
______
Introduction and overview of engineering management. Financial principles, management of innovation, technical strategy and best management practices. Case study method of instruction emphasizes participation in class discussion. Focus is on the development of individual skills and management tools. Restricted to juniors and seniors.
J-H Chun, A. Weiss

UPOP Engineering Practice Experience
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
(Offered under: 1.EPE, 2.EPE, 3.EPE, 6.EPE, 8.EPE, 10.EPE, 15.EPE, 16.EPE, 20.EPE, 22.EPE)
Prereq: None
Units: 0-0-1 [P/D/F]
Lab: M11 (3-333) or M1 (1-390) or T1 (3-333) or F11 (3-333) or F1 (3-333)
______
Provides students with skills to prepare for and excel in the world of industry. Emphasizes practical application of career theory and professional development concepts. Introduces students to relevant and timely resources for career development, provides students with tools to embark on a successful internship search, and offers networking opportunities with employers and MIT alumni. Students work in groups, led by industry mentors, to improve their resumes and cover letters, interviewing skills, networking abilities, project management, and ability to give and receive feedback. Objective is for students to be able to adapt and contribute effectively to their future employment organizations. A total of two units of credit is awarded for completion of the fall and subsequent spring term offerings. Application required; consult UPOP website for more information.
Fall: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
IAP: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
Spring: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
No textbook information available

UPOP Engineering Practice Workshop
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring)
(Offered under: 1.EPW, 2.EPW, 3.EPW, 6.EPW, 10.EPW, 16.EPW, 20.EPW, 22.EPW)
Prereq: 2.EPE
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
Lab: TBA
______
Provides sophomores across all majors with opportunities to develop and practice communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to become successful professionals in the workplace, particularly in preparation for their summer industry internship. This immersive, multi-day Team Training Workshop (TTW) is comprised of experiential learning modules focused on expanding skills in areas that employers report being most valuable in the workplace. Modules are led by MIT faculty with the help of MIT alumni and other senior industry professionals. Skills applied through creative simulations, team problem-solving challenges, oral presentations, and networking sessions with prospective employers. Enrollment limited to those in the UPOP program.
Fall: M. Vazquez Sanchez, T. DeRoche
IAP: M.Vazquez Sanchez, T.DeRoche
Spring: T. DeRoche. M. Vazquez Sanchez
No textbook information available


left arrow | SWE | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM
Registrar Home | Registrar Search:
 
  MIT Course Picker | Hydrant     
Home | Subject Search | Help | Symbols Help | Pre-Reg Help | Final Exam Schedule
 

Special Programs
IAP/Spring 2025

    IAP only
left arrow | Interphase EDGE, OVC, Terrascope, FASI | right arrow

Interphase EDGE
Institute-wide Discovery Subjects
Terrascope
First-Year/Alumni Summer Internship Program

Interphase EDGE: Pre-First-Year Summer Component

Interphase EDGE Home

SP.100 Interphase
______

Undergrad (Summer)
Prereq: Commitment to register as a first-year student in the Fall
Units arranged [P/D/F]
______
Interphase is a seven-week program designed to enhance the academic success of students entering MIT. The program has a dual focus: it gives students an introduction to the MIT experience by exposing them to the rigors of a full subject load while simultaneously preparing them for academic success beyond MIT. The program includes calculus; chemistry; physical education; physics; writing, oral presentation and teamwork skills; and supporting academic activities, including small-group learning. Students can earn transcript credit for subjects taken in the program, sometimes resulting in advanced placement in corresponding subjects taken in the Fall. Activities include day trips to area cultural, recreational, and business sites. Students participate in a range of personal and educational development seminars and activities designed to ensure their smooth transition to college life.
Staff

 

Teaching and Learning Lab

SP.200 Teaching Development Fellows Network: Experience Designing and Facilitating Educational Development
______

Graduate (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units: 1-0-1 [P/D/F]
1st mtg 2/6 at 2pm. Room e19-607. Lecture: TBA
______
Project-based subject. Students design teaching-development programs and resources that support graduate student teaching in their departments. Instruction provided in advanced topics in teaching and learning, workshop design and facilitation, peer observation, and other topics in educational development under the supervision of the Teaching + Learning Lab staff. Students are selected by an application process and require permission from their department and concurrent appointment as a Teaching Development Fellow. Fellows register for this subject in the spring and fall. Enrollment limited by availability of suitable Teaching Development Fellow positions.
Fall: B. Hansberry
Spring: B. Hansberry
No textbook information available

Institute-wide Discovery Subjects

FYE Initiatives

SP.245 The Sum of All Courses
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-0 [P/D/F]
______
Provides an overview of the wide variety of majors and joint majors as well as minors and concentrations at MIT. At each lecture, faculty from two to three departments describe their fields. One-hour seminars and panels are given on informative and engaging topics such as, "The Rationale Behind the MIT Curriculum," "The Purpose of an Education," "Integrating by Parts and Other Life Hacks," "Etiquette and Why it Is Important," "So, Darwin, Shakespeare, and Newton Walk into a Bar," "How to Avoid Burnout," "What is your Implicit Bias?," "How to be a Good Human," "Social Impact, Unintended Consequences, and Moral Hazards," and include panel discussions with MIT Administration and MIT's Distinguished Professors. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students. Limited to 1132; preference to first-year students.
Staff

SP.246 The Future: Global Challenges and Questions
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Explores global challenges through the perspective of an array of majors / disciplines at MIT. Generative and creative questioning activities and reflective discussions introduce the intellectual breadth at the Institute and provide students with tools to develop their ability to question the world and their place in it. Aims to inspire and guide students to consider how they will shape and become a part of the future they want. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students.
D. Darmofal

SP.247 Exploring Majors at the Intersection of Engineering, Life Sciences, and Medicine
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-2 [P/D/F]
Credit cannot also be received for SP.247A
______
Interactive introduction to the several majors at MIT that offer curricula bridging engineering and life sciences, through presentations by faculty, current students, and alumni. Representatives of these departments (Courses 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 6-7, 7, 9, 10, and 20, as well as the BME minor) cover aptitudes of typical students, culture, class offerings and roadmaps, and unique opportunities. Provides first-year students practical advice about how to select, prepare for and thrive in each major. Students taking 3-unit version of SP.247 complete reflection papers outside of class. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students.
S. A. Clarke, M. Jonas

SP.247A Exploring Majors at the Intersection of Engineering, Life Sciences, and Medicine
______

Undergrad (IAP)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-0 [P/D/F]
Credit cannot also be received for SP.247
URL: IAP URL: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/n9qwwgicf6mwwtj6ycn04/SP.247A_Syllabus_IAP24.doc?rlkey=wm4syi9n3k6sifcxl2m49mh97&dl=0
______
Interactive introduction to the several majors at MIT that offer curricula bridging engineering and life sciences, through presentations by faculty, current students, and alumni. Representatives of these departments (Courses 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 6-7, 7, 9, 10, and 20, as well as the BME minor) cover aptitudes of typical students, culture, class offerings and roadmaps, and unique opportunities. Provides first-year students practical advice about how to select, prepare for and thrive in each major. One-unit version of SP.247 does not include work outside of class. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year students.
S. A. Clarke, M. Jonas

SP.248 The NEET Experience
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Gives first-year students an opportunity to explore various interdisciplinary domains, or threads — Autonomous Machines, Climate and Sustainability Systems, Digital Cities, and Living Machines — all of which are a part of the New Engineering Education Transformation (NEET) program. Students gain knowledge and skills in those domains through interactions with NEET faculty, instructors, and students and exercise their algorithmic, creative, and systems thinking through team-based challenges. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students.
R. Lavi

SP.250 Transforming Good Intentions into Good Outcomes
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Explores hard choices, ethical dilemmas, and the risk of failure in the humanitarian, tech, climate change, and health sectors. Students examine case studies based on challenges faced by MIT alums, faculty, staff, students or community practitioners, and engage in simulations and facilitated discussions. Exposes students to ethical frameworks and standards for social engagement and intervention. Considers the choices faced, stakeholders involved, possible impact, and relevant MIT resources. Students produce a set of guiding questions to ask of themselves and others as they embark on social change work. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Limited to 20; preference to first-year students.
A. Hynd

SP.251 How to Change the World: Experiences from Social Entrepreneurs
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
URL: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FNUOgk3C5yhTb6S4nmh60bMiEC32xii_v_eCEGnHCUU/edit
Lecture: T3-4.30 (1-132)
______
Every week, students meet a new role model who demonstrates what it means to change the world through social entrepreneurship, technology, or policy. Each session covers an aspect of social entrepreneurship, from identifying opportunities for change to innovation within specific topic areas to impact investing. Through these speakers, students gain a greater understanding of how technology-based, impactful solutions can address global challenges. Students learn to identify and address social and environmental problems and understand the relevance of this work for their time at MIT. By the end of the term, students identify what problems are of personal interest, and are connected to resources to continue their journey of social impact during their time at MIT. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first year-students. Limited to 25; preference to first-year students.
A. Dale
No required or recommended textbooks

SP.252 Careers in Medicine
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Explores careers in medicine and health care. Additionally, explores potential majors for students looking to go into these different careers, which include physicians, physician-scientists, research scientists, biomedical engineers, bioinformatics analysts, computational biologists, health data scientists, health system managers, and health economists. Majors could include biological engineering, biology, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, and more. Allows students to explore how they can have an impact in the field of medicine in a variety of different ways. Exposes students to career paths that are patient-facing (clinical) as well as career paths that are behind the scenes. Includes field trips to nearby labs and companies. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Limited to 25; preference to first-year students.
A. Rosser

SP.253 Challenge Your Self-Identity to Grow and Achieve Life and Career Happiness
______

Undergrad (Spring)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Are your goals your own? Or do they represent what others wish for you to achieve? Have the evil tendrils of imposter syndrome ever plagued you? We are our own worst enemies when it comes to our success in our lives and careers. Throughout our lives, we absorb labels, identities, and imposed goals from those around us. Reflecting, and broadening these goals can help one break out of fixed thinking and start focusing on how to communicate their ideas and goals to others. This course seeks to challenge students to shift from a static mindset into one of growth, seek contentedness through purpose, and gain skills to better present themselves and their ideas. Instructional activities will include self-reflection (written/oral), interviews, alum panels, and short assignments outside the classroom. Outside assignments include individual and group work. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Limited to 25; preference for first-year students.
Staff

SP.254 Low Carbon Energy in Research and Application
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
One of the major challenges of our time is to provide more energy to a growing world population while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions to combat climate change. Climate science shows that it is urgent to accomplish this soon, as the residence times of most greenhouse gasses are large. Subject offers exposure to relevant research that is being done in this context at MIT. Students review short papers on low carbon technologies and climate change; hear from faculty, researchers, and industry representatives associated with the MITEI Low Carbon Energy Centers; and create a digital story exploring the connections between the challenges, research, and current deployment of technologies. Offers context to students' future academic work and exposes students to ways in which many MIT majors apply to energy. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students.
A. Danielson

SP.255 Eating Culture: An Exploration of Cultures around the World through Food
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Introduces students to different cultures around the world via the culinary dishes they enjoy. Examines the varying histories, climates, migration patterns and religions that shape a culture. Each class, students explore and--of course!--taste one dish from one country. Work outside of class includes readings and films which reveal the cultural meanings of food. May include field trips to restaurants or neighborhoods in Boston and Cambridge. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Limited to 15.
Staff

SP.256 Informed Philanthropy in Theory and Action
______

Undergrad (IAP)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Explores the potential and pitfalls of philanthropy as a mechanism for social change. Students assess the work of community agencies to address challenges and opportunities facing MIT's neighboring communities, with particular focus on community representation, equity, and social justice. Class culminates with students making a group decision on how the Learning by Giving Foundation (which is partnering with the class) will disperse $10,000 to local community agencies. Each session includes a presentation by a local community agency, grant-making foundation, and/or individual philanthropist. Through class discussion and supporting materials, students examine the interaction between philanthropy and social change, including the role of philanthropists past and present in shaping social change and social conservatism. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Limited to 20.
A. Hynd
No textbook information available

SP.257 MISTI Career Connections: Energy
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Provides students with an opportunity to network and think strategically about their global careers in the energy sector. Content is international, drawing from MISTI's global network of companies and institutions, and professionals, with attention to energy research and skills necessary to work in the energy field. Through weekly discussion-based sessions, students learn from numerous sources: MISTI hosts, MITEI, alumni, and more. As a First-Year Discovery subject, focuses on career goals and skills, providing both a global and local perspective on energy topics. Open to students of all levels and disciplines, students can learn from each other and consider personal and professional goals in a multidisciplinary and international capacity. This subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students.
Staff

SP.258 MISTI: Middle East Cross-Border Development and Leadership
______

Not offered academic year 2024-2025Undergrad (Spring)
Prereq: None
Units: 2-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
Provides opportunities to network and think strategically about challenges facing the Middle East and how situations can benefit from multi-disciplinary, cross-border solutions. Focus is international, with students working alongside peers from Israeli-Palestinian organizations. Through monthly professional development sessions with guest lecturers, weekly discussion-based sessions focused on the culture and history of the Middle East, and a group project, students explore what challenges face the Middle East and what skills are needed to address them. Networking opportunities with industry leaders and peers in the region provided. Open to students of all levels and disciplines. This subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Limited to 20.
P. Krause, S. Koltai, A. Manielevitch, & D. Dolev

SP.259 Pathways to Social Justice at MIT and Beyond
______

Undergrad (Fall)
Prereq: None
Units: 1-1-1 [P/D/F]
______
This course explores student pathways to support social change and social justice efforts within the greater Boston region and how students can be agents of change throughout their lives. Students are introduced to ethical, reciprocal, and community-informed approaches to creating social change through readings, lectures, class discussions, critical reflection, and direct service experiences with local community organizations. This course also aims to create a supportive community for undergraduate students to build a network of thoughtful MIT stakeholders dedicated to creating social good in the world. Subject offered by the PKG Public Service Center. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students.
V. Yee

 

Terrascope

Terrascope Home      Evaluations (Certificates Required)

For descriptions of subjects offered through the Terrascope Program, refer to 12.000 Solving Complex Problems and 1.016 Design for Complex Environmental Issues: Building Solutions and Communicating Ideas.

SP.310 Engagement and Discovery Through the Terrascope Field Experience
______

Undergrad (Spring); partial term
Prereq: None
Units: 1-1-1 [P/D/F]
Lecture: TBA
______
Each spring, first-year students in the Terrascope Learning Community spend a week exploring a sustainability-related problem in an off-campus site. During the trip, students engage with communities affected by the problem and people taking a wide range of approaches to address it. In this course, students will integrate and communicate their experience from the trip, with the aim of deepening their consideration of the year's problem and how the field experience impacts their thoughts about their own pathways through MIT and beyond. Students will learn about best practices and opportunities for civic engagement related to the year's topic, and they will explore ways of communicating their learnings from the field experience. Limited to first-year students participating in the Terrascope spring break field experience.
D. McGee
No textbook information available

SP.35UR Undergraduate Research in Terrascope
______

Undergrad (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units arranged [P/D/F]
TBA.
______
Undergraduate research opportunities in Terrascope.
Fall: A. Epstein
IAP: A. Epstein
Spring: A. Epstein
No required or recommended textbooks

SP.360 Terrascope Radio
______

Undergrad (Spring) HASS Arts Communication Intensive HASS
Prereq: None
Units: 3-3-6
Lecture: TR2-5 (16-168)
______
An exploration of radio as a medium of expression and communication, particularly the communication of complex scientific or technical information to general audiences. Examines the ingredients of effective radio programming, drawing extensively on examples from both commercial and public radio. Student teams produce, assemble, narrate, record and broadcast/webcast radio programs on topics related to the complex environmental issue that is the focus of the year's Terrascope subjects. Includes multiple individual writing assignments that explore the constraints and opportunities in radio as a medium. Limited to 15 first-year students.
A. W. Epstein
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

SP.361 Majors and Careers Through a Terrascope Lens
______

Undergrad (IAP) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None
Units: 1-0-1 [P/D/F]
______
MIT alumni pursuing sustainability-oriented careers describe ways in which their major and career choices have provided them with the lenses through which they see the problems they work to solve. Students participate in guided reflection, focused on making the discussion relevant to their own personal situations and affinities. Students strengthen their ability to think deeply about their goals, for MIT and for the world beyond, and come into direct contact with alumni who can continue to mentor them through this process. Open to all undergraduates, regardless of Terrascope affiliation.
D. McGee, A. W. Epstein
No required or recommended textbooks

SP.3S50 Special Subject: Terrascope
______

Undergrad (Fall, Spring) Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged
TBA.
______
Covers areas of study not included in the regular Terrascope curriculum. Preference to students in Terrascope.
Fall: A. Epstein
Spring: A. Epstein
No required or recommended textbooks

 

First-Year/Alumni Summer Internship Program

F/ASIP Home


left arrow | Interphase EDGE, OVC, Terrascope, FASI | right arrow



Produced: 14-FEB-2025 05:10 PM